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‘One less gang leader’: Haiti’s prime minister celebrates police operation
Haiti’s National Police say Mathias Saintil, leader of the Boston gang in Cité Soleil, was shot during a law enforcement operation and died in hospital. Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé welcomed his death, saying the campaign to free the country from gangs would continue.
The operation comes amid a prolonged security and political crisis that has worsened since President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in 2021. The UN says gangs control as much as 90 percent of Port-au-Prince and estimates that 1.4 million people have been displaced; a new international force has also struggled with limited staffing and resources.
In short
- Police say gang leader Mathias Saintil died after an operation.
- Haiti’s prime minister praised the operation as the campaign continues.
- Gangs control much of Port-au-Prince amid a deepening humanitarian crisis.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Those supporting the operation can argue that gangs’ extensive control, displacement of civilians and the weakness of the international response make effective law enforcement urgently necessary. Removing a gang leader may disrupt violent networks and signal that authorities are acting to restore public safety and state control.
The case against
Critics can argue that celebrating a death risks normalising lethal force and obscuring whether the operation followed due process or protected civilians. In a crisis marked by weak institutions and limited resources, they may also question whether killing one leader will improve security without a broader, accountable strategy to protect communities and address the conditions sustaining gang power.