Addison Pierre Maalouf, also known as YourFellowArab or simply “Arab”, an American YouTuber, has been kidnapped in Haiti while attempting to interview the nation’s most notorious gang leader, Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier.
Maalouf had traveled from his home in Atlanta to Haiti with the intention of interviewing Chérizier, who leads the infamous G9 and Family gang that has effectively taken control of the Haitian government.
Unfortunately, within just 24 hours of his arrival in the country, Maalouf and a Haitian colleague were abducted by members of the 400 Mawozo gang on March 14.
As reported by The Post, the kidnappers are demanding a staggering $600,000 ransom, despite an initial payment of $40,000 already made. Maalouf, who boasts over 1.4 million subscribers on YouTube, is renowned for his daring explorations of perilous locations that remain off the beaten path for most tourists.
His latest venture into Haiti, a country plagued by violence and gang control, has taken a harrowing turn as he finds himself caught in the crosshairs of criminal factions.
As word of his disappearance circulated online, fellow streamer Lalem confirmed that his friend had indeed been taken hostage. Lalem initially attempted to keep the situation private for two weeks, but the news has now spread widely.
Tried keeping it private for 2 weeks, but it’s getting out everywhere now, Yes Arab has been kidnapped in Haiti and we’re working on getting him out. Love yall he’ll be out soon ❤️
— Lalem (@Lalem) March 29, 2024
In a post on X, Lalem stated, “Yes, Arab has been kidnapped in Haiti, and we’re actively working to secure his release.”
In a separate post, Lalem also shared the last video that Mr. Maalouf posted online. The clip depicted the YouTuber at a hotel in Haiti, discussing their plans. In the video, he mentioned that he and his crew intended to travel to the capital city of Port-au-Prince, but they had to wait until the early morning hours to ensure safe passage in daylight.
This is the last video he recorded before he got kidnapped, if you have his number pls don’t text him while he’s in there for safety reasons. 🙏 https://t.co/JJ7y1uVjGA
— Lalem (@Lalem) March 29, 2024
He emphasized that Port-au-Prince is “completely run by gangs,” and despite their precautions, the volatile situation remained precarious. As he wisely put it, “all it takes is one stupid gang member holding an AK-47 for one thing to go wrong.”
On March 10, Mr. Maalouf shared that he was embarking on “another one of those trips.” In a poignant message, he wrote, “If I die, thanks for watching what I’ve put out. If I live, all glory to God.”
Before his departure to Haiti, Arab wrote; “Going on another one of those trips. If I die, thanks for watching what I’ve put out. If I live, all glory to God.”https://t.co/qSoDX1qGZR
— Dexerto (@Dexerto) March 29, 2024
On Friday, fellow YouTuber Miles “Lord Miles” Routledge revealed that he had communicated with the abducted streamer. In a string of tweets, Mr. Routledge disclosed that Mr. Maalouf was accompanied by a fixer named Sean Roubens Jean Sacra, who was also taken captive.
According to Mr. Routledge, Arab has been confined in a cage at a location on the eastern outskirts of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince.
According to Mr. Routledge, Arab remains resilient despite the challenges, expressing his determination to create an impactful video once he is free. Remarkably, Sean, the fixer accompanying him, had the opportunity to be released but chose to stand by Arab’s side, demonstrating unwavering loyalty and friendship.
Mr. Routledge expressed strong criticism toward the US government and the State Department for their perceived failure in securing Mr. Maalouf’s release. Despite Arab being a US citizen, he claimed that their involvement in assisting was notably hands-off.
In a statement to The Post, the State Department acknowledged being aware of reports regarding the kidnapping of a US citizen in Haiti. However, they refrained from divulging further specifics.
A spokesperson added, the safety and security of US citizens overseas remains their paramount concern, and they reiterate their advisory to US citizens: Do not travel to Haiti.
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