El Salvador's President, Nayib Bukele, delivered a faith-infused response this Friday to those predicting the failure of his military mission in Haiti. He confidently declared, "God will grant us victory," against the gangs holding four of his soldiers hostage.
Bukele shared this message on his X account, directly replying to an analysis by user Humberto Salazar (@drhsalazar). Salazar provocatively titled his post "BUKELE AND HIS WATERLOO?" and suggested that the chances of the Salvadoran military hostages surviving are "minimal," drawing parallels to Napoleon's failure in Haiti in 1802.
While acknowledging the critiques, Bukele dismissed them outright, stating, "Many messages, analyses, and comments like this claim that the gangs in Haiti are unlike those in El Salvador; they're bloodthirsty, heavily armed, undefeated, all missions fail, and we are falling into a trap."
The president labeled the Haitian gangs as "satanic," contrasting them with his own faithful troops: "All enlisted are believers, and we've entrusted this mission to God."
For spiritual backing, Bukele cited Deuteronomy 28:7: "The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways."
The crisis erupted on Sunday, October 18, when four Salvadoran aviation technicians—part of the UN-backed multinational Gang Suppression Force's Liberty Task Force II—were ambushed in Croix-des-Bouquets, northeast of Port-au-Prince, on a food errand.
Their armored vehicle was attacked with gunfire and explosives, set ablaze, and contact with the four men was lost.
The gangs believed responsible are Chen Mechan, led by Claudy Célestin, and 400 Mawozo, headed by Wilson Joseph, known as "Lanmò San Jou," who publicly taunted Bukele in a social media video, flaunting weapons and ammunition, asserting he won't leave the country.
On October 21, Bukele announced a rescue operation and issued an ultimatum to the gang leaders: "Return our four compatriots alive and unharmed, and everything will revert to how it was before the abduction. The decision is in your hands."
Approximately 100 Salvadoran special forces arrived in Haiti this Friday, although Haitian media reported up to 300 additional possible troops. The cited analysis by Bukele mentioned 3,000 soldiers, but no official confirmation was given.
Bukele enters this confrontation bolstered by the success of his domestic security policies: El Salvador's homicides plummeted from 6,656 in 2015 to merely 82 in 2025, with a murder rate of less than one per 100,000 inhabitants by 2026.
Nevertheless, critics argue that Haiti's situation is vastly different, with gangs controlling 80% to 90% of the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, and a unique language, culture, and history. Previous international interventions, including the 1994 U.S. mission with 20,000 troops, failed to stabilize the nation.
Understanding the Conflict Between Bukele and Haitian Gangs
What prompted Bukele to send troops to Haiti?
The mission was initiated after four Salvadoran soldiers were abducted by Haitian gangs during a food run, prompting Bukele to respond with a military rescue operation.
Why are Haitian gangs considered a significant threat?
Haitian gangs control a substantial portion of Port-au-Prince, are heavily armed, and have been described as bloodthirsty, posing a formidable challenge to any intervention efforts.
How has Bukele addressed concerns about the mission's success?
Bukele has expressed a strong belief in divine intervention and the faith of his troops, dismissing criticisms and comparisons to past failed missions in Haiti.