A Haitian citizen starred in a scene that caught the attention of local media and social networks in Port-au-Prince: tearful and visibly moved, he embraced and kissed the flag of El Salvador in front of the Central American troops that have just taken control of the country's main sports venue. Questioned by the local press about the reason for his gesture, the man declared without hesitation: "I embrace the flag because I believe in President Nayib Bukele's project."
The scene occurred after the joint operation carried out yesterday, Thursday, November 12, 2026, by which the Haitian National Police (PNH), the Armed Forces of Haiti, and the Salvadoran Special Forces recovered the Sylvio Cator National Stadium and its perimeter.
Subsequently, the Haitian authorities transferred custody of the facility to the El Salvador contingent, which established a new operational base there to consolidate security in the heart of the capital and to continue incursions against criminal groups.
The Salvadoran deployment in the Caribbean nation already exceeds 2,000 personnel mobilized in the last two weeks under a bilateral security agreement. The intervention gained greater intensity after the ambush on October 18 in Croix-des-Bouquets, where four Salvadoran soldiers disappeared after being attacked and kidnapped by armed gangs.
A criminal stronghold for more than two years
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For the thousands of merchants and families surviving in the vicinity of the Sylvio Cator Stadium, in the heart of Port-au-Prince, the arrival of Salvadoran troops represents the end of nearly three years of criminal siege. A Haitian citizen starred in a scene that caught the attention of local media and social networks in Port-au-Prince: tearful and visibly emotional, he hugged and kissed the flag of El Salvador in front of the Central American troops that have just taken control of the country's main sports facility. Questioned by the local press about the reason for his gesture, the man declared without hesitation: "I embrace the flag because I believe in President Nayib Bukele's project."
The scene occurred after the joint operation carried out yesterday, Thursday, November 12, 2026, through which the Haitian National Police (PNH), the Armed Forces of Haiti, and the Salvadoran Special Forces recovered the Sylvio Cator National Stadium and its perimeter. Subsequently, the Haitian authorities transferred custody of the facility to the Salvadoran contingent, which established a new operational base there to consolidate security in the heart of the capital and to continue incursions against criminal groups.
The Salvadoran deployment in the Caribbean nation now exceeds 2,000 personnel mobilized over the last two weeks under a bilateral security agreement. The intervention gained greater intensity after the ambush on October 18 in Croix-des-Bouquets, where four Salvadoran soldiers disappeared after being attacked and kidnapped by armed gangs.
A Haitian citizen hugged and kissed the flag of El Salvador in front of local media after the operation in which Salvadoran soldiers took control of the Sylvio Cator Stadium.
Named in honor of the celebrated Haitian athlete who won the silver medal in the long jump at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympic Games, the Sylvio Cator Stadium was historically the home of the national soccer team. However, since February 2024 — more than two years and eight months — the infrastructure fell under the siege and absolute control of the gangs, mainly the criminal coalition Viv Ansanm, forcing the Haitian squad to play its home matches abroad, including the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
During the time they held the facility, the armed groups transformed the sports complex into a strategic enclave with three main functions:
Command and coordination center: The structure served as a nerve center for planning attacks and coordinating destabilizing actions in different sectors of Port-au-Prince.
Armed fortress and refuge: Being an enclosed building of great size in the urban center, the gangs used it as a hideout, trench, and weapons depot to repel the advance of law enforcement.
Scene of executions: After entering the playing field and facilities during yesterday's operation, the military found several human skulls and bone remains scattered on the site, evidencing that the stadium was also used to murder victims and abandon their bodies.
President Nayib Bukele announced the installation of a Salvadoran military base at the Sylvio Cator Stadium in Port-au-Prince. (Courtesy: Nayib Bukele)
With the installation of more than 20 armored vehicles, military trucks, and tactical equipment inside the stadium, the facility now goes from being a symbol of the gangs' territorial seizure to becoming a platform of advance for the allied troops.
The Sylvio Cator Stadium is located in the historic and commercial center of Port-au-Prince, a densely populated perimeter that borders emblematic neighborhoods such as Village-de-Dieu, Bel-Air, La Saline, and the vicinity of the Salomon Market. Those who live in and pass through this area daily belong mostly to four social sectors that have suffered directly from the criminal siege.
A map of Port-au-Prince indicates the zones under armed siege and the vulnerable groups around the Sylvio Cator Stadium. (Illustrative image Infobae)
For residents like the man who kissed the Salvadoran flag in front of the cameras, the arrival of the troops and the establishment of a permanent military base at the Sylvio Cator represent the first tangible sign of relief after years of economic paralysis and constant fear. His direct reference to the security model promoted by Nayib Bukele reflects the expectation of a civilian population that sees in the Salvadoran deployment a real opportunity to recover its streets, reactivate local commerce, and restore tranquility to its communities.