SUMMARY

OP Lavalas (Organisations Populaires Lavalas: Popular Organisations Lavalas) were loosely-organised popular civic groups and street gangs that came together to launch an assault on the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, in support of ex-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and his political party, Fanmi Lavalas, in 2004. Their violent behavior earned them the derogatory, yet commonly used, title: Chimères.

The OP Lavalas sought to overthrow the interim Government of Haiti and reinstate Jean-Bertrand Aristide as President.

Its members comprised supporters of Aristide and his Fanmi Lavalas party, including former members of the National Palace General Security Unit, as well as hooligans or street gangs. The majority came from poorer neighborhoods in Haiti and many of the gangs emerged from the pro-Aristide locations of Lower Delmas, La Saline, Martissant and Bel Air. In spite of this, OP Lavalas did not control any specific territory.

Although OP Lavalas claimed to be affiliated with the Fanmi Lavalas political party, no direct connection has been found to Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Nevertheless, the group was suspected to have been paid and armed by supporters of Aristide.