Port-au-Prince, Haiti – August 27, 2024: Kenya has pledged to send an additional 600 police officers to Haiti to assist in combating the powerful gangs controlling much of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and its surrounding areas. The deployment will bring the total number of Kenyan officers in Haiti to 1,000 as part of a broader multinational security effort to restore order in the Caribbean nation.
Strengthening the Mission
During a visit to Haiti, President William Ruto praised the work of the nearly 400 Kenyan officers already on the ground and announced plans to turn the current Kenya-led security mission into a full United Nations peacekeeping operation. He noted that the mission, which began in June 2023, has made significant progress in aiding Haiti’s struggling police forces, despite challenging conditions.
“There are many people who thought Haiti was mission impossible, but today they have changed their minds because of the progress you have made,” President Ruto told the Kenyan officers during his visit.
Ruto also assured the officers that they would receive improved equipment to enhance their capacity to counter gang violence. "Our next batch, an additional 600, is undergoing redeployment training. We will be mission-ready in a few weeks’ time and look forward to the requisite support to enable their deployment,” Ruto added.
Push for UN Peacekeeping and Global Support
Ruto’s call for transitioning the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) into a full UN peacekeeping operation underscores the urgent need for more resources and equipment to tackle the escalating violence. The UN Security Council is set to meet by the end of the month to decide whether to renew Kenya’s current mandate for another year, potentially paving the way for a full peacekeeping mission in 2025.
A full UN mission would provide much-needed funding, helicopters, night vision equipment, and drones to assist Haitian forces and Kenyan officers in their efforts to combat gangs that have expanded their control over new territories. International experts, including UN human rights advocate William O’Neil, have criticized the mission's current resource constraints, warning that the situation in Haiti remains dire.
“The Multinational Security Support Mission has so far deployed less than a quarter of its planned contingent,” O’Neil reported. Despite an international arms embargo, gangs in Haiti continue to access weapons, further complicating efforts to restore order.
Worsening Crisis in Haiti
Haiti’s capital and surrounding areas remain under siege by heavily armed gangs, with violence and displacement on the rise. The UN reports that over 700,000 people are now displaced, and incidents of sexual violence have surged. O’Neil, who recently visited southern Haiti, highlighted the need for immediate action, stating, “The situation borders on the impossible. We have to learn to walk on water.”
He urged the international community to redouble efforts to stifle the gangs by providing the MSS mission with the necessary tools and resources to effectively support the Haitian National Police.
“This enduring agony must stop. It is a race against time,” O’Neil said, emphasizing the need for immediate logistical support and the implementation of targeted sanctions against the gangs.
Kenya’s Role in Restoring Peace
Kenya’s involvement in Haiti is part of a broader international effort to stabilize the nation. Other countries have pledged an additional 1,900 troops to support the mission, but the deployment remains slow. With President Ruto’s leadership and the anticipated increase in Kenya’s contingent, there is hope that the mission can gain momentum in the coming months.
The success of the mission is critical for Haiti’s future, as the country continues to face gang-driven violence, widespread displacement, and political instability. As Kenya prepares to send its additional officers, the international community watches closely, awaiting the UN Security Council’s decision on the future of the mission.
