Kenyan President William Ruto arrived in Haiti on Saturday to support the United Nations' efforts in assisting resource-strapped Kenyan and Jamaican forces combatting gangs in the Caribbean nation. Kenya was the first country to send forces as part of the U.N.'s international support mission in response to the turmoil following the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.
Currently, there are about 400 Kenyan police officers in Haiti, with an additional contingent of police and soldiers from Jamaica recently arriving. However, concerns have been raised by the United States and other nations regarding the insufficient resources and manpower to effectively tackle the gang-controlled areas, particularly in the capital, Port-au-Prince.
The mission aims to have a total of 2,500 personnel, with commitments from countries like the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, and Chad to send police and soldiers in the future. The possibility of a U.N. peacekeeping force has been discussed, but concerns about past issues such as cholera outbreaks and sexual abuse cases have made it a controversial proposal.
A U.N. human rights expert highlighted the escalating gang violence in Haiti, emphasizing the need for improved logistical and technical capabilities within the Haitian National Police to effectively combat the gangs' influence. The gangs have been expanding their control over new territories, exacerbating the security situation in the country.
Ruto's visit coincided with the establishment of a provisional electoral council in Haiti, a development long awaited by the international community to facilitate the upcoming general election, the first since 2016. With the power vacuum created by Moïse's assassination, the gangs have capitalized on the instability, further consolidating their power. The upcoming general election and the ongoing peacekeeping mission are seen as crucial steps towards restoring order and stability in Haiti.
