General Mobilization at the Haitian National Police: Police Seeks to Respond to Threats from Armed Gangs

The Haitian National Police (PNH) triggered, on November 16, 2025, an exceptional measure: THE GENERAL MOBILIZATION OF ALL ITS PERSONNEL. In an internal memo circulating within the institution, the General Directorate of the Haitian National Police announced the immediate suspension of all leave and permissions, “until further notice.” This rare decision underscores the gravity of the security context in the capital and several departments. A Strong Signal from a State Under Pressure This total mobilization means that all police officers, from specialized units to basic police stations, must remain available for continuous operations. According to an administrative source, the PNH believes it faces a conjunction of high threats, particularly announced reprisals by powerful armed groups, following recent operations conducted in the Croix-des-Bouquets region. Barbecue Promises to Occupy the Streets Hours before the internal memo, Jimmy Chérizier, alias Barbecue, a former police officer turned criminal gang leader, disseminated a threatening message in which he promised that his armed coalition would retake the streets of Port-au-Prince. He presents this initiative as a “response” to police operations targeting terrorists from his coalition and also claims he wants to “punish” the authorities for what he describes as “provocations.” Reprisals Announced After Operation Against 400 Mawozo Barbecue's statement comes a few days after a PNH offensive in the stronghold of the 400 Mawozo gang, led by Lanmò 100 Jou, one of the most feared figures in the Haitian criminal landscape. The operation, according to several witnesses, caused intense clashes and population displacement in the Ganthier and Croix-des-Bouquets areas. The PNH Seeks to Avoid a Simultaneous Outbreak of Violence The general mobilization decided by the General Directorate of the Haitian National Police reflects a desire to avoid a simultaneous loss of control on multiple fronts. Indeed, the multiplication of coordinated attacks or reprisal operations could quickly overwhelm the usual capacities of the police. Specialized units SWAT, UTAG, BIM, and BOID are expected to be massively deployed in strategic areas, while police stations will be reinforced to prevent assaults often used as a show of force by armed groups. A Critical Test for the PNH This mobilization is also an institutional test: it will highlight the real capacity of the Haitian National Police (PNH) to respond to a multi-front threat, while ensuring civil protection in a context of limited resources, chronic operational fatigue, and lack of specialized equipment.
Police officers, already strained by months of continuous clashes, could be subjected to even greater pressure. Immediately, Haiti holds its breath, aware that the coming days will be decisive for national security and the future of Port-au-Prince.