Haitian and Salvadoran Forces Retake National Football Stadium in Port-au-Prince

Haitian security forces, supported by private security contractors and Salvadoran military personnel, have retaken the Sylvio Cator Stadium in Port-au-Prince after two years of gang occupation. The Haitian National Police announced on Thursday that its forces had established full control over the venue alongside Task Force, a private security entity operating on behalf of the Haitian government. Following the clearance operation, the stadium was handed over to Salvadoran soldiers to secure the perimeter.

The operation forms part of a broader military intervention ordered by El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, who deployed approximately 2,000 soldiers to Haiti. Bukele stated earlier in the week that Salvadoran troops had targeted and destroyed the headquarters of 400 Mawozo, one of the primary armed gangs operating in the capital. Salvadoran state television confirmed that its forces had taken up tactical positions inside the facility following the joint operation.

The unilateral deployment by El Salvador was initiated after four Salvadoran soldiers went missing during an ambush in Port-au-Prince on October 18. The missing personnel were attached to the Gang Suppression Force, a multinational security mission operating under a mandate backed by the United Nations. Representatives of the multinational mission have publicly distanced the UN-supported force from the direct tactical actions undertaken by Bukele’s rescue contingent.

The 10,000-capacity Sylvio Cator Stadium fell under the control of armed criminal groups in 2024, amidst a severe escalation of violence across the capital. The loss of the country's main sporting venue compelled the Haitian national football team to host its home qualifying matches for the World Cup in Curaçao. Gangs had systematically seized major infrastructure across Port-au-Prince as state authority eroded throughout the nation.

Despite the displacement and logistical hurdles, the Haitian national squad, composed almost entirely of overseas-based players, successfully qualified for the 2026 World Cup. The team was subsequently eliminated during the group stage of the tournament. Local authorities have not yet announced when regular sporting events or public gatherings will resume at the reclaimed venue.

Written by Thorben Thiede thorben.thiede@alpineweekly.com