Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier, a notorious former police officer and leader of the “Viv Ansanm” gang coalition, has issued a public threat to overthrow Haiti’s transitional government. In a video widely circulated on social media, Cherizier called on Haitians to support his bid to storm the Prime Minister’s office and other government buildings, including those housing the executive branch.

The threat comes during a delicate political moment as Haiti prepares for a leadership transition within the Presidential Transitional Council.

Leadership Change Sparks Escalation

On Thursday, August 7, Fritz Alphonse Jean was expected to hand over leadership of the Council to Laurent Saint-Cyr. Saint-Cyr is a prominent businessman known for heading the American Chamber of Commerce in Haiti and the country’s Chamber of Industry.

Observers believe the impending transition may have triggered the surge in violence as gangs seek to disrupt the transfer of power.

Kenyan MSS Officers Ambushed in Kenscoff

At around 2 a.m. on the same day, three Kenyan police officers, part of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM), were injured after responding to distress calls in Kenscoff, near Port-au-Prince.

According to a statement by MSSM spokesperson Jackson Ombaka, the officers were ambushed after their armored vehicles got stuck in trenches dug by gangs. The attackers used Molotov cocktails—homemade incendiary bombs—causing severe damage and igniting fires.

Vehicles Destroyed; Officers Recovering

Though the Kenyan officers sustained injuries, they were quickly treated at Aspen Level 2 Hospital and later discharged. Unfortunately, the armored vehicles could not be salvaged and were destroyed in the fire set by the assailants.

The ambush is seen as a show of force by Cherizier and his coalition against the Kenyan-led security mission and Haiti’s transitional authorities.

Haiti’s Spiraling Crisis

Haiti remains gripped by extreme violence, especially since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. According to the United Nations, gangs now control approximately 90% of Port-au-Prince. In 2025 alone, over 3,137 people have been killed in gang-related violence.

The MSSM, primarily composed of Kenyan officers, faces increasing challenges in restoring stability as powerful gangs grow bolder in their attacks.