In brief
The United Nations said it had received a letter signed by Wilson Joseph, the leader of the 400 Mawozo gang, asking for international mediation while Salvadoran soldiers are advancing through gang‑controlled sections of Haiti to locate four missing troops. The U.N. clarified the letter does not imply it endorses the gang and stressed that all operations must comply with international human‑rights law. The request comes as part of the larger Salvadoran offensive in hopes of rescuing soldiers believed missing since October.
The United Nations announced on Thursday that it had received a letter from a prominent Haitian gang leader requesting international mediation as Salvadoran troops press gang‑controlled areas of the island to locate four soldiers who went missing in October. The writer of the letter was identified as Wilson Joseph, better known in the country as "Lanmò Sanjou," the head of the 400 Mawozo gang that primarily operates in the Croix‑des‑Bouquets commune northeast of Haiti’s capital, Port‑au‑Prince.
Joseph’s signature on the request brought the U.N. into a delicate situation. The organization’s spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, clarified that the receipt of the letter did not signal an endorsement of the gang’s actions or an acknowledgment of Joseph as a legitimate representative of Haiti’s population. “Receiving the letter does not mean the organization endorsed its content, recognized its author, or had taken an official position on the request,” Dujarric said.
The United Nations added that the letter specifically asked for an international delegation to begin talks aimed at finding a peaceful solution to Haiti’s security crisis. The gang leader also voiced concern that the military deployment ordered by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele could spark further violence. While the U.N. expressed “deep concern about the impact of violence on Haiti’s population,” it stressed the need for all security operations to comply with international law and human‑rights standards.
Joseph has been on the United Nations Security Council’s sanctions list since December 2023 for a range of serious abuses. Those crimes include killings, kidnappings, sexual violence and the recruitment of children. U.S. authorities have also sought his arrest over an alleged role in the October 2021 kidnapping of 17 Christian missionaries, including five children, and are offering a $1 million reward for information that leads to his capture.
In addition to the U.N.’s statement, the U.N. support office for Haiti noted that the majority of the Salvadoran troops recently deployed on the island do not belong to the U.N.-backed Gang Suppression Force, also known as GSF. Because these soldiers are not part of the GSF, their operations fall outside the U.N.’s mandate and reporting framework. The U.N. support office therefore remains accountable for providing logistical and operational assistance solely to the international force, not to the Salvadoran troops. The troops, by contrast, are organized to provide security and search for the missing soldiers.
Salvadoran forces have maintained that their enforcement actions only target gang elements that have threatened civilian safety. They claim that the operation is separate from the U.N. effort and that the first priority is rescuing local firefighters. The move comes after the country reported that four Salvadoran soldiers were missing in the Ouest department in October. The Salvadoran forces remain on the ground, carrying out searches and negotiations with the 400 Mawozo gang, under the premise of rescuing the soldiers before a potential escalation of violence.
While the U.N. announced it would work within a “human‑rights framework” for any future interactions, it urged all actors involved to keep civilians safe. The request, drawn up by Joseph, is the first known instance where a Haitian gang leader reached out to an international body for mediation. The gang’s involvement emphasizes that the Haiti conflict is complex, with local and foreign forces intertwining. In the U.N.’s view, any solution must be agreed upon by all parties and respect the rule of law, international human‑rights principles and the delicate balance of security on the island.
