El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has shared footage showing heavily armed soldiers from his country patrolling the volatile streets of Haiti and interacting with locals. In a provocative post on social media, Bukele seemingly challenged local gangs, writing, “Gather your gangs so we can go fight with them,” amid an ongoing crisis sparked by the disappearance of four Salvadoran aviation technicians.

Haitian authorities reported finding the burned vehicle used by the missing men in a neighborhood near Port-au-Prince that remains under the tight control of armed gangs. However, despite joint operations involving local police, a UN-backed multinational force, and the newly arrived Salvadoran troops, the whereabouts of the four technicians remain completely unknown.

The deployment of over 2,000 Salvadoran troops and military hardware follows Bukele’s hardline domestic policies, yet it has raised significant legal and human rights concerns. A UN spokesperson pointed out that only a small fraction of the deployed Salvadoran soldiers actually fall under the official jurisdiction of the multinational security mission, leaving questions about accountability and adherence to international law.

Humanitarian organizations, including Doctors Without Borders, have warned that the influx of foreign security forces could exacerbate an already dire situation for civilians. With widespread violence blocking aid deliveries, delaying long-overdue national elections, and leaving millions facing acute hunger, the introduction of foreign troops introduces a volatile new dynamic to Haiti’s protracted crisis.

Source: www.aljazeera.com