El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has deployed 2,000 troops to Haiti following the disappearance of four Salvadoran aviation technicians who went missing after a gang ambush near Port-au-Prince on Oct. 18. Bukele issued a stern warning to Haitian criminal groups, stating that El Salvador is prepared to use overwhelming force if the missing men are not returned alive.
"We have already finished with the gangs in El Salvador, and we can finish with you too," Bukele wrote on the social media platform X, addressing Haiti's criminal elements. He emphasized that the operation's aim is not an invasion or long-term occupation but the safe recovery of the four technicians. The disappearance has become a national priority for Bukele.
The four technicians were part of a United Nations-backed Gang Suppression Force (GSF) in Haiti and were ambushed in Croix-des-Bouquets. Haitian National Police announced over two weeks later that the charred remains of their armored vehicle had been found, but there was no sign of the missing men. El Salvador maintains the technicians were abducted, while the Haitian government states they are missing and one gang leader claims they are dead.
Bukele also referenced the 1806 assassination of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, Haiti's first leader, in a message directed at the Haitian people, suggesting that traitors still exist in the country. He also reposted video of an engagement in Croix-des-Bouquets where Salvadoran attack helicopters reportedly repelled gang fighters attacking GSF soldiers.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, when asked about the situation, confirmed speaking with Bukele and stated, "He said that he has a big problem with Haiti. They killed some of his people. I said, 'You're running your country. You have to do what you have to do.'"
Haiti's transitional government has backed Bukele's deployment, with Prime Minister Didier Fils-Aimé stating that the international force is there to support, not replace, the state. Fils-Aimé added that Bukele "understands our fight… He came to stand on the side of the Haitian people."
The operation has drawn criticism from human rights advocates and gang leaders, who warn of potential civilian suffering. The U.N. reports that at least 5,700 people have been killed or injured due to gang violence in Haiti this year. The U.N. has also cautioned El Salvador to adhere to international law, noting that this deployment is separate from the GSF.
Wilson Joseph, a gang leader known as "Lanmò Sanjou," accused a rival gang of the ambush and claimed the Salvadorans are dead. He sent a letter to the U.N. secretary-general requesting mediation and warning that Bukele's actions could escalate violence, making the Haitian people the primary victims.
Bukele dismissed these concerns, accusing gang leaders of using civilians and human rights issues as a shield and stated that negotiations have only prolonged Haiti's crisis. El Salvador itself experienced years of extreme gang violence before launching an unprecedented crackdown in 2022, leading to tens of thousands of arrests. Supporters credit this strategy with dramatically reducing homicide rates, while critics point to alleged human rights abuses.
The effectiveness of exporting El Salvador's model to Haiti, where gangs control significant portions of the capital and security conditions have deteriorated despite international intervention, remains uncertain. The GSF has faced manpower shortages and operational limitations. "We can help you defeat them, but we are not your enemies," Bukele stated. "Haiti will be free."