HAITI'S feared warlord Barbecue has sent out a chilling threat to the residents of Port-au-Prince, warning the capital to "brace itself".
Concerns are rapidly growing that the ruthless gang running roughshod over Haiti could bring together its army and launch a bloody coup as soon as today.
The National Palace has always been seen as the building Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier wants to take most due to it being the home of the president in Haiti.
For weeks, the armed thugs under his command have been marching towards the heavily-fortified residence, storming through neighbourhoods, leaving them all devastated.
Heavy gunfire has also been reported near the National Palace in recent days as many believe a brutal siege could be imminent.
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This idea has been bolstered after Barbecue issued an ominous video warning on social media.
He announced: "Whether or not you're installed, this message is for you: Brace yourselves."
The palace has already been "bracing" for any trouble for weeks now with cops deploying tear gas to push people back.
Heavily-armed soldiers have also been seen patrolling the international airport's diplomatic entrance.
A planned change of government is set to take place soon resulting in heavy protection needed for those coming in.
Nine new members of the government are expected to come in to try and restore a sense of peace in Haiti through a revamped presidential transition council.
Among those newcomers will include an interim prime minister set to stay in power until the Caribbean island can safely plan a new election.
In order for the positions to become official they must be sworn in at the palace however - sparking fears it could be the perfect time for Barbecue and his thugs to strike.
No date has been formally announced as of yet but some believe it could be early as in the next 72-hours if not by the end of today.
Bloodthirsty Barbecue has made it his mission to topple the Haitian government since ripping through Port-au-Prince in the past few weeks.
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Originally the outrage was linked to ousting former PM Ariel Henry from his position of power but Henry agreed to resign on March 11 prompting the new formation of a government.
But attacks on the capital have only worsened since Henry stepped down.
This has caused the US military to bolster defences at their own embassy over fears of continued violence.
Barbecue has previously said he would consider a ceasefire, as well as peace and political talks, as long as he and his gangs are included in the process.
But analysts say he is battling for complete control of the small Caribbean island nation of 11 million.
As part of their plan to take the palace, the gun-wielding thugs took over the State University Hospital next-door and turned it into a fortress base to launch further attacks.
The criminal kingpin, who reportedly earned his nickname for burning victims alive, warned recently that more bloodshed would be coming.
Two voice recordings are circulating on social media which locals claim is Barbecue ordering his soldiers to burn houses down in Lower Delmas, an impoverished part of the capital where he grew up.
"Continue burning the houses. Make everybody leave," a man says in the first audio recording.
In another, he says he has sent jugs of gasoline: "No need to know which house. Burn every house you find. Set the fire."
A CITY UNDER SIEGE
For more than two years, warring factions have been tearing Port-au-Prince apart, turning every day into a fight for survival.
But Haiti has been rocked by a surge of unrest since the end of February when armed groups raided a prison, releasing more than 5,000 inmates, and demanded Prime Minister Ariel Henry resign.
Port-au-Prince has been engulfed in an all-out civil war between more than 200 gangs, a weak police force and, more recently, citizen-led death squads.
The state has been largely absent during the violence and Haiti's outmanned and outgunned police are ill-equipped against the gangs which are seeking to expand their territorial control of the capital city.
Plans for an international security mission, requested by Henry in 2022, remain on hold pending a new government.
But as the Caribbean nation reels under a state of emergency, civilians have been heavily caught in the crossfires and the violence has killed thousands and displaced tens of thousands.
The UN estimates that over 360,000 people are internally displaced and millions are going hungry as key ports and supply routes remain blocked.
