Kenya commits more forces to Haiti as Gang control tightens grip
Kenya has pledged to send an additional 600 police officers to Haiti in the coming weeks, reinforcing its mission to help combat the growing influence of gangs in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and surrounding areas.
This move will bring the Kenyan contingent, which has been deployed gradually since June, to a total of 1,000 officers. The deployment is part of a Kenya-led multinational security mission aimed at assisting Haiti’s struggling police force.
During a visit to Haiti, Kenyan President William Ruto expressed support for transforming the current security mission into a full United Nations peacekeeping operation.
He praised the Kenyan officers for their achievements so far, saying, “There are many who thought Haiti was a mission impossible, but today they have changed their minds due to the progress you have made.”
Currently, nearly 400 Kenyan officers are on the ground, working alongside Haitian forces to restore security. The next group of 600 officers is undergoing redeployment training and is expected to be mission-ready in a few weeks.
However, the mission has faced criticism for its slow pace and lack of sufficient equipment. A UN human rights expert, William O’Neil, recently highlighted the need for better resources, including helicopters, drones, and night vision goggles, to effectively combat the gangs.
He warned that arms smuggling continues to fuel gang violence, displacing over 700,000 people and escalating sexual violence across the country.
The UN Security Council is set to meet at the end of the month to decide on renewing Kenya’s mandate for another 12 months.
A renewal would open the door for a full UN peacekeeping mission by 2025, bringing increased funding and resources to bolster efforts to restore order in Haiti.
Source: bbc.com
