Gang leader with $1 million US bounty petitions UN chief for dialogue

The leader of one of Haiti's most powerful gangs has written to the UN Secretary-General requesting a delegation for dialogue and mediation. Wilson Joseph, known as Lanmò Sanjou, heads the 400 Mawozo gang, carries a $1 million US government reward and has been indicted in the United States on hostage-taking charges. A source not authorized to discuss the situation confirmed the UN has received the letter.

The two-page document, sent from Plaine du Cul-de-Sac, describes 400 Mawozo as a "rebel group" and states that Joseph has "officially raised the white flag" since Aug. 20. He writes that he fears President Nayib Bukele's "vengeful remarks" will produce "a logic of reprisals, of which the Haitian people would be the first victims," and that he remains "officially available" to receive the delegation he "respectfully" requested.

The timing is the letter's substance. Four Salvadoran aviation technicians were attacked in Plaine du Cul-de-Sac on Oct. 18 and remain missing. Bukele has since deployed more than 2,000 troops to Haiti. Clashes intensified after a gang-suppression force working alongside Haitian police and soldiers — together with Vectus Global, the private security firm founded by former US Navy SEAL and Blackwater founder Erik Prince — began fighting armed men near Port-au-Prince.

The UN counts more than 5,700 people killed or injured across Haiti between January and mid-September. The World Food Programme now reports food insecurity on track to reach record highs.

400 Mawozo, whose name translates roughly as "400 Simpletons," operates largely in Croix-des-Bouquets, near Port-au-Prince, and built its reputation on thousands of kidnappings, including the October 2021 abduction of 17 missionaries — 16 of them Americans, one Canadian, five of them children — all eventually released. Joseph's letter offers to "participate in any meeting aimed at finding a peaceful solution" and insists that "the protection of civilians, particularly children and vulnerable families, must be at the heart of any international initiative." Its author is wanted by Washington for conspiracy to commit hostage taking.

The forces now arrayed around Plaine du Cul-de-Sac answer to San Salvador, to a private security firm and to a UN mandate. The man they are fighting answers to the Secretary-General, in writing, with requests for delegations.

Washington's reward for information leading to his arrest remains $1 million.