South African mercenaries are said to be involved in Haiti in the run-up to that country’s elections later this year, News24 reported on Tuesday.
It said an e-mail to members of the SA Special Forces League mentions that league members and former members of the police task force have apparently ”positioned” themselves for ”fireworks in a small, controversial, Caribbean country”.
The league’s official stance is that it ”aggressively condemns all mercenary-related activities”.
Those involved are warned to abandon the operation, no matter what promises have been made to them.
”The whistle has been blown; the game is over; get out and stay out,” is the warning.
News 24 said this might confirm certain South Africans’ involvement, mentioned in newspaper and radio reports in Port au Prince, the capital of Haiti.
These reports claimed between 10 and 15 South African mercenaries travelled to the Dominican Republic, presumably to obtain visas to enter Haiti.
They are supposed to cause chaos in the country in the run-up to the elections.
An international security company, which previously supplied bodyguards to former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide, is thought to be involved in recruiting the latest group.
It is known that several South Africans had worked for the security company previously, said News24.
The Dominican security forces are reportedly investigating the possible presence of the men in their country.
Reports on the matter also appeared in Le Matin in Haiti.
This newspaper linked the alleged mercenaries to Aristide. It said their mission apparently was to murder political leaders, disrupt business, and foment civil resistance.
The report states the Dominican security forces are contacting their peers in Haiti to try to prevent any attempted violence.
About 7 600 UN peacekeepers have been deployed in Haiti to help stabilise the country. – Sapa