Kenyan police officers deployed to Haiti to help local forces fight armed gangs have not been receiving their full pay for two months, authorities informed.
The Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS), mostly funded by the United States, acknowledged the delays, saying that forces could expect to receive their payments by the end of the week.
Speaking to CNN, some police officers showed frustration about the lack of payment, saying they need them to support their families at home. The sums promised were comparatively substantial, as the deployment is more typical of a military force.
The snag further illustrates how the international mission aimed at helping stabilize the beleaguered country has been faltering. The force was supposed to be formed by 2,500 officers from different countries, but so far only 400 from Kenya have arrived.
Forces have also been unable to make substantial progress in their fights with gangs, which have seemingly not been deterred.
The criminal organizations staged a new prison break in mid-August in a compound that housed around 500 inmates.
In March, gangs had raided the country's two largest prisons, resulting in the escape of over 4,000 detainees, including dangerous criminals and individuals involved in the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse.
Forces also suffered a recent defeat when they withdrew from the town of Ganthier, in the outskirts of Port-au-Prince. This resulted in the displacement of nearly 6,000 residents, taking the overall figure to almost 600,000.
In this context, the U.S. Southern Command said it has started sending 24 additional armored vehicles and 34 Overhead Gunner Protection Kits, also known as "turrets" to help in their operations. The latter equipment will be installed by military contractors and should help troops' field view.
Although there has been a slight decrease in killings and kidnappings in recent months, attacks by armed groups remain persistent. The U.N. reported that in the second quarter of 2024 alone, over 1,300 people were killed or injured, and 428 were kidnapped.
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