Five Salvadoran Soldiers Missing After Haiti Gang Ambush

Five Salvadoran soldiers from the Gang Suppression Force went missing Sunday following an ambush in Santo, a community near Croix-de-Bouquets. The soldiers were traveling in a vehicle within a restricted red zone when they were attacked. One soldier reported an injury during the incident before all communication with the group ceased.

The area is controlled by the Chien Méchant gang, though the Mawozo gang, which is known for kidnappings, also operates in the region. The Haiti National Police denied having information regarding the incident.

The Gang Suppression Force is a UN-backed mission consisting of fewer than 1,000 personnel from nations including El Salvador, Chad, and Mongolia. The force is tasked with curbing gang violence that has killed more than 22,000 people since 2021. Jack Christofides, the special representative of the force, stated that gang attacks on the mission are a sign that the force is disrupting gang revenue and business models.