In a U.N.-backed mission, 200 police officers from Kenya have landed in Haiti to join efforts in battling violent gangs that have seized control of parts of the troubled Caribbean nation. This deployment follows a previous contingent of 200 officers who arrived in Port-au-Prince, where gangs currently dominate at least 80% of the city.
The United Nations Security Council recently expressed strong condemnation of the high levels of armed violence in Haiti, which are not only destabilizing the country but also impacting the wider region.
The Kenyan officers' specific assignments have not been disclosed due to security reasons, but they have been observed patrolling areas near the main international airport, which had to shut down for nearly three months earlier this year due to escalating gang violence.
The mission, led by Kenya, aims to support Haiti's National Police, which is facing challenges of being understaffed and underfunded. With only around 10,000 active officers in a country of over 11 million people, the police force is stretched thin.
The primary goal of the mission is to combat the gangs responsible for a significant number of deaths and injuries in Haiti. Last year alone, over 4,450 people were killed by gangs, with another 1,668 injured. The violence has escalated this year, with more than 1,500 people already killed or injured in the first three months.
While some Haitians have welcomed the Kenyan officers, there are concerns among others. Some fear that the mission may only provide a temporary reduction in violence, especially if underlying issues of corruption and impunity are not addressed.
There are also worries about the conduct of the Kenyan police, who have faced allegations of abuses, including extrajudicial killings in their own country. Previous international interventions in Haiti have been marred by controversies, such as the U.N. peacekeeping mission from 2004 to 2017, which faced accusations of sexual assault and the introduction of cholera.
Despite the presence of the Kenyan officers, some residents like Jean-Marc Etienne, who lost his home due to gang violence, have not seen a significant improvement in security. Gangs have left over half a million Haitians homeless in recent years, with many struggling to find shelter and basic necessities.
The situation worsened earlier this year when gangs launched coordinated attacks, including storming police stations and prisons, leading to widespread chaos and prompting the resignation of the former Prime Minister. The transitional government that followed is now grappling with the ongoing security challenges in Haiti.
