Salvadoran Troops Face Review
Haiti's prime minister travels to San Salvador next week to negotiate the legal terms for 2,500 foreign soldiers currently deployed in the country.
By Robert Ward ·
2,500 Salvadoran soldiers are currently operating in Haiti, a number that has drawn intense scrutiny from local leaders and international observers alike.
Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé will travel to El Salvador next week to meet with the government of President Nayib Bukele. A Salvadoran official confirmed the visit to the Associated Press on Monday, noting that the discussions will center on the future of the foreign troop presence. It remains unclear whether the two leaders will meet face to face.
The diplomatic move follows a rapid expansion of military activity in the Caribbean nation. The offensive began in October after four Salvadoran aviation technicians went missing during a gang attack. Since that incident, Bukele has deployed thousands of troops to combat the criminal groups that control large portions of Haitian territory.
Tensions rose sharply on Sunday when joint forces from Haiti and El Salvador destroyed the home of Wilson Joseph, the leader of the 400 Mawozo gang. Damian Merlo, a lobbyist for the Salvadoran government, confirmed the operation. Joseph, also known as Lanmò San Jou, survived the attack. Two days prior, Bukele had posted on the social platform X in Haitian Creole, asking followers for the exact address of Joseph's residence. He wrote that once the location was identified, forces would destroy the property.
The legal basis for the deployment remains a point of contention. Merlo stated that the troops operate under a formal agreement between the two governments, likely a status of forces agreement or a memorandum of understanding. However, he did not specify the exact rights granted to the soldiers. This ambiguity has fueled concerns about the legality of the operations and the potential for escalation.
The situation regarding the four missing technicians also remains disputed. Joseph told the Associated Press that the men are dead and were killed by the Chen Mechan gang. The Salvadoran government maintains that the technicians are still alive. Fils-Aimé addressed the debate last week, stating that the Salvadoran forces are present to support the Haitian government in its fight against gangs.
Haiti’s government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the upcoming visit. The trip comes as Bukele continues to project a strong stance against organized crime, a strategy that has brought him international fame but also allegations of human rights abuses in El Salvador.
