Port-Au-Prince: Kenya deployed an additional 217 police officers to Haiti on Saturday, reinforcing an international security mission in the Caribbean nation where escalating gang violence has displaced over one million people.
The deployment is part of Kenya’s commitment to the U.N.-backed Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, which aims to combat the surge in gang-related violence in Haiti. Kenya has pledged a total of 1,000 personnel to the mission and has now sent over 600 officers in multiple deployments.
“Our commitment to this historic mission is unwavering, and we will continue to mobilize all the necessary international support for it to succeed,” said Kenya’s Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen in a statement posted on social media.
The MSS mission has garnered pledges from 10 countries, collectively promising over 3,100 troops. However, actual deployments remain limited, with Kenya playing a leading role in staffing the mission. Nations such as Guatemala, El Salvador, Jamaica, and Belize have also contributed officers to support Haiti’s fight against gang violence.
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Despite Kenya’s dedication to the mission, challenges have emerged. Reuters recently reported that nearly 20 officers from Kenya’s initial deployment had submitted letters of resignation, citing delayed salaries and poor working conditions. In response, the MSS in Haiti clarified that salaries had been paid and no resignations were received.
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The ongoing violence in Haiti, marked by gang turf wars and kidnappings, has plunged the nation into a humanitarian crisis. The MSS mission aims to restore order and provide relief to affected communities.
