Who is Jimmy ‘Barbecue’ Cherizier? The Cannibal Gang Leader Who Has Brought the Haiti Government To Its Knees

Manoj Nair
Who is Jimmy ‘Barbecue’ Cherizier? The Cannibal Gang Leader Who Has Brought the Haiti Government To Its Knees

Sandwiched between Cuba, Jamaica, and the Bahamas is the small country named Haiti. Measuring just 27,750 square kilometers, this small island nation has a violent history. It is in the news today for the state of anarchy that is prevailing in the nation.

The writ of the state has collapsed, and gangs are now controlling many parts of the nation. Gangs have broken into prisons and freed thousands of convicts, and the 5,000-member strong police force is hard-pressed in fighting the gangs.

Who is Jimmy ‘Barbecue’ Cherizier?

The most significant and most powerful gang is the one led by Jimmy Chérizier, a.k.a. Barbecue.

Jimmy Chérizier calls himself the savior of the poor, but experts point to his sordid and violent past. Who is Jimmy Chérizier, and what is his profile? Continue reading this write-up to know more about him.

The recent events in Haiti have brought into the spotlight Jimmy Chérizier, a 46-year-old rifle-toting mobster who is spearheading an insurrection against the Haitian government. In the last five years, he has led an uprising by his gang against the Haitian government led by Prime Minister Ariel Henry. Speaking to foreign reporters, Jimmy Chérizier said that he is not a mobster but a local Robin Hood who is fighting for the urban poor against a corrupt government.

He is media-savvy, as evidenced by the fact that he regularly interacts with the media, especially foreign ones. He once said that he is like Martin Luther King but with a difference: the latter did not like fighting with guns, while Jimmy Chérizier prefers to fight with guns. He is also a great admirer of Fidel Castro, Thomas Sankara, and Malcolm X.

Jimmy Chérizier was born in the 1970s when Haiti was ruled by the ruthless dictator Baby Doc Duvalier. He was one of five siblings, and his mother made money by selling fried chicken on the streets. It is said that his nickname, Barbecue, could be linked to his mother’s profession. However, there are some who hint at a more sinister reason for this name—his penchant for incinerating his enemies.

Jimmy Chérizier was with the Haitian Police Force and was a member of the riot squad. The squad has been accused of committing excesses, and Jimmy was also involved in these excesses. In 2018, he was expelled from the force after committing a massacre in a slum called La Saline, in which 71 people were killed. Unconfirmed reports also talked about mass rape, looting, and the burning of more than 400 homes.

Also Read: Israeli strike on Lebanese village leaves 3 dead

Related Articles
Exit mobile version