Haitian Gang Chief Claims White Flag as Clashes with Salvadoran Troops Intensify

Wilson Joseph, who leads the 400 Mawozo gang under the alias Lanmò Sanjou, confirmed on Monday that he sent a letter to the United Nations Secretary General on November 1. In the two-page document, Joseph requested a U.N. delegation visit Haiti to facilitate dialogue and mediation. The move comes as tensions rise between the gang and Salvadoran troops who recently arrived in the country.

Joseph made the disclosure in his first interview with a major international media outlet. He stated that the four Salvadoran aviation technicians who disappeared on October 18 are dead. He said the attack took place while the technicians were in the territory of Chen Mechan, a rival gang. Joseph did not present physical evidence for this claim. The Haitian government maintains that the technicians were abducted, and the Salvadoran government believes they are still alive.

The U.S. government has placed a $1 million reward on Joseph’s head. He was indicted in the United States in 2022 on charges of conspiracy to commit hostage taking and hostage taking. The 400 Mawozo group operates primarily in Croix-des-Bouquets, a community near Port-au-Prince. A spokesperson for the gang, who declined to be identified, accused the government of abandoning that area. The spokesperson said Joseph took charge of the region as a result.

Joseph expressed frustration over drone attacks that he said are killing civilians in the Plaine du Cul-de-Sac region near Port-au-Prince. He noted that clashes have intensified since a U.N.-backed force began fighting armed men in the area. This force is working alongside Haitian police, soldiers, and Vectus Global, a private security firm founded by Erik Prince. Prince is a former U.S. Navy SEAL and co-founder of Blackwater.

In his letter to the U.N., Joseph wrote that he fears the situation will lead to an escalation of violence and a logic of reprisals. He stated that the Haitian people would be the first victims. Joseph alleged that recent events in the Plaine du Cul-de-Sac, particularly in areas controlled by the Chen Mechan gang, are causing serious concern. He asserted that he has officially raised the white flag since August 20.

Joseph directed a message to Nayib Bukele, the president of El Salvador, who deployed 2,000 troops to Haiti. Joseph told Bukele that Haitian politicians are the father of the gangs and the rebels. He added that the politicians do not want the conflict to stop. Joseph said he is upset that the same politicians who armed gangs in Haiti are now bringing foreign troops to destroy them.

He said he is ready to lay down guns and enter into dialogue. When asked what he wants in exchange for this ceasefire, Joseph declined to specify. He said he would discuss those terms when he sits down with a peace commission. Joseph rejected accusations that his gang has killed innocent Haitians. He said he does not have a problem with forces arresting gang members but accused them of dropping drones and killing children and the elderly.

According to the United Nations, more than 5,700 people have been killed or injured across Haiti from January to mid-September this year. Joseph wrote that he is officially available to receive the requested delegation. He stated that he would respectfully participate in any meeting aimed at finding a peaceful solution, a dialogue agreement, and a sustainable stabilization process. He said he remains convinced that dialogue must prevail over force.

The spokesperson for 400 Mawozo denied that the group’s actions constitute kidnappings. The spokesperson called them a measure of justice, citing sexual abuse charges against a former missionary. This referred to the October 2021 incident where the gang held 17 missionaries, 16 from the U.S. and one from Canada, for several weeks. Five children were among the hostages. All were eventually released. The spokesperson also stated that the group is not a terrorist organization and that young people lacking education are being killed while allegedly being used by politicians.