December 23, 2024
A second contingent of 200 Kenyan police arrived in Haiti on Tuesday, landing at Toussaint Louverture International Airport. This deployment is part of the Multinational Security Support (MMSS) mission, aimed at strengthening security in the country that is seriously affected by gang violence. This mission, led by Kenya, is part of international efforts to stabilize the situation in Haiti, in collaboration with local authorities.
Before their departure, a senior Kenyan police official confirmed that 200 police officers had left Kenya the day before and were expected in Haiti the following morning. The reception of the police officers upon their arrival was organized by the highest authorities of the Haitian National Police (PNH), including Director General Rameau Normil and Chief Inspector General Fritz St Fort. General Godfrey Otunga, head of the Kenyan contingent in Haiti, was also present to supervise this new deployment.
These new arrivals will join the 200 Kenyan police officers already there for approximately two weeks, bringing the total number of Kenyan police officers deployed in Haiti to 400. This reinforcement is a direct response to Kenya’s commitment to deploy up to 1,000 police officers to help fight against organized crime, particularly in the metropolitan region of Port-au-Prince. The senior Kenyan police official said more deployments would follow soon.
The MSS, supported by a UN resolution (resolution 2699), sees the participation of several other countries, including the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin and Chad. Together, these nations will contribute to a multinational force of more than 2,500 police officers. This international initiative aims to restore order in Haiti, in close collaboration with the Haitian government and in strict compliance with international law.
The context in Haiti is marked by increasing violence. Since the start of the year, hundreds of people have been killed or injured due to clashes between gangs and police. Kidnapping for ransom is also on the rise, with nearly 438 people kidnapped in the first three months of the year. Insecurity has forced thousands of people to flee their homes, further worsening the humanitarian crisis in the country.
This international deployment, initially authorized by the UN Security Council in October 2023, aims to stabilize Haiti over an initial period of twelve months. The mission will be re-examined in nine months to assess its effectiveness and decide whether to extend it. In the meantime, Kenyan police officers and their international colleagues continue to work to restore security and peace in Haiti.