El Salvador’s Bukele threatens Haitian gangs over abducted soldiers

El Salvador has initiated a military operation to rescue four Salvadoran soldiers abducted by gangs in Haiti, President Nayib Bukele confirmed in a post on X, without elaborating.

Key points

• Gang violence has displaced almost 1.5 million residents in Haiti over recent years.
• Haiti's administration issued a news release on Wednesday evening saying the release of the abducted soldiers was an "absolute priority".
• It was not immediately clear if Haitian authorities received any confirmation that the Salvadoran soldiers are alive.
• A spokesperson for the GSF did not immediately respond to a message seeking details.
• The UN-backed force is still fighting gangs in the community where Sunday's attack occurred, warning residents in the area to remain indoors.

Bukele, known for his intense crackdown on gang violence in El Salvador, cautioned in Wednesday's statement that a more forceful response was coming if the personnel were not issued alive and well.

"Do not take our word for empty threats, " the president wrote, addressing the gangs allegedly responsible for holding the four men. "We have already finished with the gangs in El Salvador, and we can finish with you too."

Gangs in Haiti opened fire on an armoured vehicle carrying the men three days earlier, in the first major attack since an international gang suppression force began operating in the violence-wracked Caribbean country last year.

For context, the four men, aviation technicians with the United Nations-backed Gang Suppression Force (GSF), have been missing since they fled the burning vehicle in the Santo area of Croix-des-Bouquets, Port-au-Prince.

Authorities stated a session was held at the prime minister's office "to assess the ongoing interventions and determine the necessary measures to strengthen operations, in close collaboration with the Gang Repression Force".

Notably, a spokesperson for the GSF did not immediately respond to a message seeking details.

In practice, the UN-backed force is still fighting gangs in the community where Sunday's attack occurred, warning residents in the area to remain indoors. More than a million displaced in Haiti.

No one has asserted responsibility for the attack on the Salvadoran troops. It comes as Haiti prepares for its first general election in more than a decade. It additionally showcases the power of the gangs that control an estimated 70 percent of the capital, Port-au-Prince.

El Salvador is among a number of countries – including Chad, Jamaica and Guatemala – to form part of the gang suppression force, with more than 2, 000 troops on the ground in Haiti.

Gang violence has displaced almost 1.5 million residents in Haiti over recent years. More than 5, 700 individuals have been killed or injured from January through mid-September this year, and more than 230 have been kidnapped, according to the UN.

For context, the area where the armoured vehicle was targeted is controlled by gangs, including Chèn Méchan; Kraze Barye, led by Vitel'Homme Innocent; and 400 Mawozo, led by Lanmo Sanjou.

Both gang leaders have been sanctioned by the UN and the US.

Taken together, the developments around el Salvador's Bukele threatens Haitian gangs over abducted soldiers point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.