Haitian PM to Visit El Salvador to Discuss Troop Presence
Prime Minister Fils-Aimé will meet with President Bukele's administration next week as 2,500 Salvadoran soldiers continue operations in Haiti.
By Adriana Abebe ·
Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé will travel to El Salvador next week to negotiate the status of Salvadoran forces operating in Haiti. A Salvadoran government official confirmed the visit to The Associated Press on Monday, citing the need to define the legal framework for the military deployment.
It remained unclear whether Fils-Aimé would hold a direct meeting with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
The diplomatic move follows an escalation in military activity that began in October. At that time, four Salvadoran aviation technicians disappeared during a gang attack. In response, Bukele deployed at least 2,500 troops to the Caribbean nation. He has since framed the intervention as a crusade against criminal organizations that control large sections of Haitian territory and maintain ties with political elites.
Tensions rose on Sunday when Haitian police and Salvadoran soldiers destroyed the home of Wilson Joseph, also known as Lanmò San Jou. Joseph leads the 400 Mawozo gang, one of the most powerful groups in the country. Damian Merlo, a lobbyist for the Salvadoran government, confirmed the operation after Haitian media first reported it. Joseph survived the destruction, and gang leaders are known to rotate between multiple residences.
On Friday, two days before the raid, Bukele posted on X asking followers in Haitian Creole for the exact address of Joseph’s house. He wrote, “Give us the exact address, and we’ll destroy it.” Several accounts responded with coordinates that appeared to be direct.
The conflict over the missing technicians remains unresolved. Joseph told The Associated Press that the four Salvadorans are dead and were attacked in the territory of the Chen Mechan gang. The Salvadoran government has maintained that the technicians are alive.
Salvadoran troops are operating under an agreement signed by both governments, according to Merlo. He stated the forces are working under either a status of forces agreement, which sets legal rights for foreign military personnel, or a memorandum of understanding, which establishes broader military cooperation. Merlo did not provide specific details on the rights granted to the troops.
Fils-Aimé responded to scrutiny last week by stating that Salvadoran forces are supporting the Haitian government in its fight against gangs. The Haitian government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the upcoming visit.
