Prime Minister Fils-Aimé confident security will be restored to Haiti.

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, CMC -Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé says his government has two priorities, namely to restore security and organize elections in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.

There have been doubts as to whether Haiti can hold long-awaited presidential and legislative elections on December 13 amid concerns over the increase in gang warfare as well as the registration of voters and political parties.

In a national broadcast flanked by officials of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), Fils-Aimé thanked the members of the security forces who are making “a huge sacrifice to restore security in Haiti.

“I would like to pay a special tribute to everyone who has served Haiti, who has served the nation to restore security in the fight against the gangs. I would also like to send a message of solidarity to all Haitians, even if we are in a difficult situation.

“Today, the government has two priorities. First, to restore security in all territories. Second, to organize elections. Today, I would like to tell everyone, all the people, that we are entering a decisive stage. I want to be a voice of precision to all Haitians around the world.”

Prime Minister Fils-Aimé said the Haitian National Police (PNH), together with the army and other stakeholders, is working to secure the State.

“The PNH did not come to replace the State; they came to support us, to strengthen our capacities, and to support us in the fight against the gangs. Each institution has a mission. PNH is responsible for public security and public peace, together with the application of the law. “Haitian Armed Forces are responsible for defense missions, protection of territorial integrity, and, according to legal attribution, to control our borders, and to control the weapons and ammunition that pass through them.”

He said that together, under the authority of the Haitian State, “we are going to fight this, and we are going to fight this underground with determination, to eradicate these gangs.”

Prime Minister Fils-Aimé also thanked “all the countries that support us, for their solidarity.

“This international collaboration should be served with one goal: to help Haiti regain control of the territory and to build its own security capacities. Force the repression of the gangs; this is an extremely important element in the international system that supports PNH.”

Fils-Aimé said that so far several countries, including Chad, Sri Lanka, Guatemala, Mongolia, Jamaica, El Salvador, and Bangladesh, have sent soldiers here.

He made particular mention of El Salvador, which has sent 4,000 troops here, as Haitian police have recovered the burned-out vehicle in which four Salvadoran aviation technicians were traveling before they disappeared during an attack by armed gangs on October 18.

However, the four men remain missing, and authorities said they found the vehicle last Monday in the Santo district of the municipality of Croix-des-Bouquets, on the outskirts of the capital, Port-au-Prince.

According to the police, the vehicle was completely burned out. Police encountered no resistance during the operation, but they did not find the four missing technicians, and their whereabouts remain unknown.
Earlier, there had been confusion regarding human remains found in Haiti that might belong to the four Salvadorans, but President Nayib Bukele said that the remains were not those of his troops.

Bukele has drawn prominent attention to the operation on social media, and in a post on X, he challenged the gangs to confront his troops.

Prime Minister Fils-Aimé has said the Haitian State will not give up any territory and that armed groups cannot continue to impose their law on the country.

“Bandits must be punished. We will not tolerate abuse, ill-treatment, illegal acts of violence, or any violation of human rights,” Prime Minister Fils-Aimé said, thanking President Bukele “for understanding our struggle.

“He understands our struggle, but he also understands our struggle as peasants, to help us prevent the exploitation of our people,” he added.

Prime Minister Fils-Aimé said operations will continue with determination, coordination and responsibility until public order and state authority are restored.

“The government has done all it can to lay the groundwork for a good army that will reach 15,000 soldiers in a short time, which is very expensive. To lead this battle, in addition to the people, the government has put in place all the necessary equipment.

“In the past month, we have received 40 new tanks, and the Haitian government pays for all these tanks. In the past year, the government has put more than 100 tanks at the disposal of all the national forces for the pre-operational tanks.”

He said in the fight against the armed gangs, “The State must show that it has more discipline, more responsibility and more respect for the people.

“All the operations carried out by the forces in this national territory have been carried out with respect for the country’s law and the international commitment that has been signed. We are not fighting against the people. We are fighting against gangs that treat the people as hostages.”