Haitian Gang Chief Claims White Flag, Cites 5,700 Casualties as UN Dialogue Requested

More than 5,700 people have been killed or injured across Haiti from January to mid-September, according to United Nations data. This figure underscores the human cost of the escalating conflict as one of the country's most influential armed leaders formally requested diplomatic engagement. Wilson Joseph, the leader of the 400 Mawozo gang, confirmed to The Associated Press on Monday that he sent a letter to the U.N. Secretary General on November 1. In the two-page document, Joseph stated he has "officially raised the white flag" since August 20 and asked for a U.N. delegation to arrive for dialogue and mediation.

The request comes at a moment of heightened tension. Clashes have intensified in the Plaine du Cul-de-Sac region near Port-au-Prince since October 18, when four Salvadoran aviation technicians disappeared. Joseph told the AP that the technicians are dead, although he provided no evidence for this claim. The Haitian government maintains that the four Salvadorans were abducted, while the Salvadoran government believes they are still alive. Joseph noted that the attack occurred while the technicians were in the territory of Chen Mechan, a rival gang.

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele recently deployed 2,000 troops to Haiti following the incident. Joseph expressed concern that these forces, working alongside a U.N.-backed gang-suppression unit and the private security firm Vectus Global, are killing civilians. He specifically cited drone attacks that have struck the area. "The protection of civilians, particularly children and vulnerable families, must be at the heart of any international initiative," Joseph wrote in his letter. He added that he fears the situation will lead to a "logic of reprisals" of which the Haitian people would be the first victims.

Joseph accused Haitian politicians of arming gangs and then bringing in foreign troops to "destroy us." He claimed that these politicians are warning him about security operations headed his way. "The Haitian politicians are the father of the gangs and the rebels," he said. "The politicians don't want this to stop." Despite these accusations, Joseph said he is ready to lay down guns and engage in dialogue. However, when asked what he wanted in exchange for peace, he declined to specify, stating he would discuss terms when sitting with a peace commission.

The 400 Mawozo gang, a name that roughly translates to "400 Simpletons," operates largely in Croix-des-Bouquets, a community near the capital. A spokesperson for the group, who declined to be identified, said the government had abandoned the area, prompting Joseph to take charge. The gang is known for kidnappings, including the October 2021 capture of 17 missionaries, 16 from the U.S. and one from Canada. All were eventually released after being held for what the spokesperson described as a "justice" measure related to sexual abuse charges against a former missionary.

The U.S. government has issued a $1 million reward for Joseph, who was indicted in the U.S. in 2022 on charges of conspiracy to commit hostage taking and hostage taking. Joseph rejected the label of a terrorist organization for his group. He asserted that recent events in Plaine du Cul-de-Sac, particularly in areas controlled by Chen Mechan, are causing serious concern. He wrote that he is "officially available" to receive the U.N. delegation and will "participate in any meeting aimed at finding a peaceful solution, a dialogue agreement and a sustainable stabilization process."

The intervention by foreign and private forces has marked a shift in the country's security strategy. The U.N.-backed force, Haitian police, and soldiers have been fighting armed men in the region following the disappearance of the Salvadoran technicians. Joseph said he has no problem with forces arresting gang members but criticized the use of drones that kill the elderly and children. He remains convinced that dialogue must prevail over force, a stance that stands in contrast to the military pressure currently applied in the capital's outskirts.