Salvadoran Military Presence: Haiti Prime Minister to Negotiate Terms

Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé is scheduled to visit El Salvador next week to negotiate the future of Salvadoran military forces stationed in Haiti. A Salvadoran government official confirmed the upcoming trip to The Associated Press on Monday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. It remains unclear if Fils-Aimé will meet directly with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele.

The diplomatic movement occurs while at least 2,500 Salvadoran soldiers operate in Haiti. These forces joined the conflict in October after four Salvadoran aviation technicians disappeared during a gang attack. Since then, Bukele has positioned himself as a leader combating crime, targeting gangs that control large sections of Haitian territory and maintain ties with local political elites. Damian Merlo, a lobbyist for the Salvadoran government, stated that the troops operate under a bilateral agreement. He specified that this framework is either a status of forces agreement or a memorandum of understanding, though he did not share specific details on the rights granted to the military.

Salvadoran forces and Haitian police recently executed a raid on the home of Wilson Joseph, the leader of the 400 Mawozo gang. The operation was reported by Haitian media and confirmed by Merlo. Joseph, who is also known as Lanmò San Jou, survived the attack. Gang leaders frequently move between residences. Two days prior to the raid, Bukele used the social media platform X to ask for Joseph’s address in Haitian Creole, stating that the government would destroy the location. Several accounts responded with coordinates. The four missing Salvadoran technicians remain a point of contention. Joseph told the AP that the men are dead and were attacked in territory controlled by the Chen Mechan gang. The Salvadoran government continues to state that the technicians are alive.

Fils-Aimé addressed the increased military activity last week, stating that Salvadoran forces are present to support the Haitian government's fight against gangs. Bukele gained global recognition for his aggressive campaign against gangs in El Salvador. That campaign reduced homicide rates but also generated allegations of widespread human rights abuses.

Haiti’s government did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the upcoming visit or the legal status of the troops. The details of current operations have remained unclear, raising questions about the legality of the deployment and the potential for further escalation in the Caribbean nation.