Front Burner

How gang leader "Barbeque" took over Haiti

Haiti's Prime Minister Ariel Henry has agreed to step down, as gangs take over — exacerbating the violence and hunger that the country was already dealing with.
A gang leader holding a gun and wearing a combat vest stands surrounded by masked gang members.
Former police officer Jimmy "Barbecue" Cherizier, leader of the 'G9' gang alliance, speaks during a press conference in Delmas 6, Port-au-Prince, Haiti on March 5, 2024. (Ralph Tedy Erol/Reuters)

On Monday, Haiti's Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced from Puerto Rico that he would be stepping down. He's been unable to return to Haiti since January, because heavily armed gangs have shut down the airport and taken over much of the country. 

Today, Haitian reporter and editor-in-chief of AyiboPost, Widlore Merancourt, explains what it's like on the streets of Port-au-Prince, what the gangs want, and whether more foreign intervention is really the answer. 

For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts

Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

Listen on Google Podcasts

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify