Haitian warlord Jimmy Chérizier, also known as Barbecue (Babekyou), has drawn inspiration from reggae legend Bob Marley as he continues to lead the country’s most prominent gang in a battle against multiple opposing forces.
The 47-year-old leader of the Revolutionary Forces of the G9 Family and Allies (Haitian Creole: Fòs Revolisyonè G9 an Fanmi e Alye), or “G9,” was seen on TikTok in a video posted on September 2, dressed in a baby blue T-shirt, singing Bob Marley & The Wailers’ iconic protest anthem, “Get Up, Stand Up.”
Chérizier, who mostly speaks Hatian Creole has increasingly turned to TikTok Live! as a platform to spread his message to a global audience, even as he faces mounting foreign pressure.
Get Up, Stand Up” written by Bob Marley and Peter Tosh has been used by several leaders over the years as inspiration. Most recently Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Motley started her address the general debate of the 76th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations (New York, 21-27 September 2021).
Following a meeting in March with Secretary Antony J. Blinken in Kingston, Jamaica, Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, announced in early September that Jamaica will deploy 24 military and police personnel to Haiti as part of an international mission to combat its powerful gangs. This initial team will help establish a command structure in preparation for future deployments.
Although Jamaica had previously pledged 200 personnel for the U.N.-backed mission, the deployment has been delayed. The mission, led by Kenya with 400 officers already on the ground, also includes support from Benin, the Bahamas, Belize, and Jamaica, with a combined pledge of 2,900 troops. Despite logistical challenges and delays, the mission seeks to address Haiti’s escalating security and humanitarian crisis.
Meanwhile, Chérizier, who identifies himself as the leader of an “armed revolution,” remains Haiti’s most powerful and influential gang leader. Haiti has been without an elected head of state since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise at his private residence overlooking the capital on July 7, 2021. Moise had taken office in February 2017, following his election in November 2016.
