A letter attributed to Lanmò San Jou, leader of 400 Mawozo, asks the UN for mediation

A letter attributed to Wilson Joseph, alias "Lanmò San Jou", leader of the 400 Mawozo gang, asks United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to send a delegation to Haiti to facilitate "a process of dialogue and mediation". Dated Croix-des-Bouquets, November 1, 2026, and presented under the letterhead of a "Communication Office" of the group, it has been circulating on social media since the weekend and was picked up by Rezo Nòdwès and the EFE news agency.

The document's authenticity has not been independently confirmed, Rezo Nòdwès and La Lupa del Sur point out. The UN has not confirmed receiving it.

What the letter says

The author claims to have "officially" raised the white flag since August 20, 2026, and says he favors a dialogue between "the international forces present in Haiti and the 400 Mawozo group". The letter describes a worrying situation in the Plaine du Cul-de-Sac, particularly in the area where, according to the letter, Claudy Célestin, known as "Chen Mechan", operates. It claims that since the incidents involving four Salvadoran soldiers, civilians, including children and pregnant women, have suffered violence, and mentions an eight-year-old girl who was reportedly shot in the head. These claims have not been verified.

The text also argues that the "vengeful threats" of Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele risk leading to an escalation. Copies are addressed to the press, the OAS, CARICOM, BINUH and the IACHR, among others.

The context

Four Salvadoran soldiers of the UN-mandated Gang Suppression Force (GSF) have been missing since their vehicle was attacked on Sunday, October 18, in Croix-des-Bouquets. In late October, the GSF received remains that could be theirs, but it has not been able to confirm it. According to Le Nouvelliste, cited by Diario Libre and El Día, a Haitian government source attributed their capture to members of the Chen Mechan gang, although no public evidence has confirmed it. On October 21, Nayib Bukele announced a military operation and warned the kidnappers that "today's attack is nothing compared to what is coming" if they do not release the four hostages alive. More than 2,000 Salvadoran soldiers have since arrived in Port-au-Prince, according to EFE.

Wilson Joseph has been under UN Security Council sanctions since December 8, 2023. He is indicted in the United States for hostage taking in the kidnapping of 17 missionaries in October 2021, and Washington offers up to one million dollars for information leading to his arrest.