Haiti Security: Amnesty Demands Clarity on 2,000-Troop Mission
Human rights group requests full disclosure of the agreement governing Salvadoran forces deployed to Haiti following the disappearance of four personnel.
By Aiko Brooks ·
Amnesty International issued a formal call on Monday for El Salvador and Haiti to publicly release the specific terms of their military cooperation. The organization seeks the complete agreement that governs the current deployment of approximately 2,000 Salvadoran soldiers in the Caribbean nation.
The mission began in mid-October after four Salvadoran personnel vanished while in Haiti. President Nayib Bukele initially justified the send-off as a measure to secure the return of those missing individuals. However, Bukele has since suggested a wider objective to dismantle powerful local gangs, a strategy he employed domestically amid allegations of human rights violations.
A central concern for Amnesty International is that most of these soldiers operate outside the United Nations-backed Gang Suppression Force. Ana Piquer, the group's Americas Director, noted that this arrangement creates uncertainty regarding rules of engagement and oversight.
Piquer stated that both governments must explain how they supervise the forces, what limits apply to the use of force, and who holds ultimate accountability. She emphasized the need for a clear process allowing civilians to report potential violations without fear of retaliation.
The rights group urged Bukele and Haiti Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime to ensure all operations strictly comply with international human rights law. Piquer also demanded the establishment of prompt and independent investigations into any reported abuses to prevent a repeat of past impunity.
The deployment continues under these conditions. The two nations are currently responsible for managing the forces on the ground. The public agreement remains the key document missing from the current transparency framework.
