The second group of 200 Kenyan police officers has arrived in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. This increases the total number of Kenyan officers in the country to 396. An additional 600 officers are to join soon as part of a United Nations-back mission. They aim to restore law and order in the gang-affected nation. The first group of Kenyan officers landed on June 25. These officers are from the General Service Unit, special units, and the Border Patrol Unit.
Commander of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM), Godfrey Otunge, emphasized the mission’s dedication to stabilizing Haiti. “The MSS mission is committed to winning the fight against the gangs in Haiti. The Haitian National Police are collaborating closely with the Kenyan contingent. Also, our message has been clearly communicated,” Otunge stated. He also acknowledges the support of Haitian Prime Minister Gary Conille and stressed the importance of restoring stability and economic growth in Haiti.
International Cooperation and Support
On Monday, six senior officers from Jamaica arrived in Haiti for a previsit before deploying their soldiers. Otunge expressed his satisfaction with the warm reception from the local community and the Haitian government. “Kenya, as the lead country for the MSS mission to Haiti, is pleased with the reception and confidence shown. This is by the local populace and support from various organizations, both local and international. This engagement will help us achieve our mandate under United Nations Security Council Resolution No. 2699, 2023,” Otunge says.
On July 7, Kenyan police officers began receiving essential equipment. This includes armoured personnel carriers (APCs) provided by the United States. “More APCs arrived on Sunday, and we expect additional equipment deliveries over the next ten days,” a source revealed.
In addition to Kenya and Jamaica, other nations have pledged to send officers to Haiti, including Benin, Bahamas, Belize, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Algeria, Canada, France, Germany, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and Spain.
Before the departure of the first Kenyan officers, gang leader Jimmy Cherizier issued a warning that his gangs would resist the foreign forces. However, he has since held press conferences calling for dialogue and expressing his willingness to negotiate with the government. Despite this, the Haitian Prime Minister has dismissed these overtures, insisting that the gangs must disarm.
READ MORE: Haiti Deployment starts-Kenyan Police
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