Developing Report: American Social Media Star Kidnapped in Haiti

An American YouTube influencer was abducted by a criminal gang in Haiti, but there seems to be reluctance from the Biden administration to intervene in the situation.

Forbes magazine highlighted that the U.S. Department of State has issued warnings advising Americans against visiting Haiti.

Reports indicate that Addison Pierre Maalouf, known as “YourFellowArab” or simply “Arab” on YouTube, traveled to Haiti with the intention of interviewing the leader of a criminal gang that has asserted control over the Haitian government.

Maalouf sought to interview Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier, the leader of the infamous G9 Family and Allies gang, upon arriving in Haiti. However, he has since disappeared within the tumultuous country, as reported by the New York Post.

Just one day after his arrival in Haiti on March 14, Maalouf was allegedly abducted by members of the 400 Mawozo gang.

This gang has demanded a ransom of $600,000 for Maalouf’s release.

Representatives of Maalouf have acknowledged paying $40,000 to the gang, but the criminals are demanding more.

“Initially, we tried to handle it discreetly for two weeks, but now the news is spreading everywhere,” stated Lalem, a fellow YouTuber and friend of Maalouf.

“Yes, Arab has been kidnapped in Haiti, and efforts are underway to secure his release,” confirmed Lalem, expressing hope for Maalouf's swift return.

Another YouTuber, Miles Routledge, also known as travel YouTuber Lord Miles, corroborated that Maalouf and his guide, Sean Roubens Jean Sacra, have indeed been abducted, as reported by Forbes.

One of Maalouf’s recent videos included his warnings about the extreme danger prevalent in Haiti.

Maalouf had expressed intentions to visit Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, but only during daylight hours.

He cautioned that the capital city is “completely controlled by gangs” and despite arranging for safe passage, “a single reckless gang member with an AK-47 could derail everything.”

Forbes noted that the U.S. government is “aware of reports regarding the abduction of a U.S. citizen in Haiti,” without mentioning Maalouf by name.

Routledge asserted that the U.S. State Department has taken a “hands-off approach” toward securing Maalouf's release.

The Biden administration has already withdrawn all U.S. embassy personnel from Haiti.

Maalouf had aimed to interview gang leader Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier after the latter claimed responsibility for liberating nearly 4,000 inmates from Haiti’s prisons. Cherizier has faced sanctions from the U.S., U.K., and the U.N. since 2018 for his involvement in an attack on a Port-au-Prince neighborhood that resulted in 71 fatalities.

In some of his messages to friends, Maalouf appeared to anticipate the risk of being abducted by other gangs while en route to interview Chérizier.

In one of his final posts on social media, Maalouf wrote, “If I don’t make it, thanks for watching my content. If I survive, all praise to God.”