Kenya to send 600 more police officers to Haiti

Kenya has announced that it will send an additional 600 police officers to Haiti in the coming weeks. This decision is part of an ongoing effort to assist the Haitian police force in combating the gangs that have been causing chaos in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and surrounding areas. With this new deployment, the total number of Kenyan police officers in Haiti will reach 1,000. President William Ruto of Kenya visited Haiti recently and met with the Kenyan officers stationed there. During his visit, he expressed his commitment to improving the equipment available to these officers, which is crucial for their operations. The Kenyan police have been in Haiti since June, working alongside local forces to restore order and security in a country that has been plagued by violence. President Ruto also mentioned his support for transforming the current Kenyan-led security mission into a full United Nations peacekeeping operation. This change would allow for more international support, as several other countries have pledged to send at least 1,900 additional troops to assist in the mission. The situation in Haiti remains dire, with a UN human rights expert warning that gangs are expanding their reach into new areas, leading to further displacement of the population. The UN Security Council is expected to meet soon to discuss whether to extend Kenya's current mandate for another year, which would facilitate the establishment of a full UN mission in 2025. This extension would also provide much-needed funding and resources for the operation, which has faced challenges due to a lack of equipment. While addressing the Kenyan police officers at their base in Port-au-Prince, President Ruto praised their efforts over the past few months. He stated, 'There are many people who thought Haiti was mission impossible, but today they have changed their minds because of the progress you have made. ' He expressed confidence that the Kenyan police would succeed in their mission against the gangs and reiterated his promise to secure better equipment for them. The nearly 400 Kenyan officers currently on the ground are actively patrolling and collaborating with Haitian forces to protect the local population and restore security. Ruto mentioned that the next group of 600 officers is undergoing training and will be ready for deployment in a few weeks. However, there has been criticism regarding the lack of decisive action against the gangs. A UN human rights expert who recently visited Haiti reported that the mission is inadequately equipped and in need of essential resources such as helicopters, night vision goggles, and drones. The expert noted that the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS), authorized by the UN Security Council in October 2023, has deployed less than a quarter of its planned forces. Despite an international arms embargo, weapons and ammunition continue to be smuggled into Haiti, allowing gangs to expand their control over new territories. The expert's visit to the southeast region of the country revealed that the police lack the logistical and technical capabilities to effectively counter the gangs. One policeman in Jérémie expressed the dire situation, saying, 'The situation borders on the impossible. We have to learn to walk on water. ' The increase in sexual violence has been alarming, with over 700,000 people displaced from their homes. The UN expert emphasized that 'this enduring agony must stop. It is a race against time. ' He believes that solutions are available, but immediate and intensified efforts are necessary. It is crucial to empower the MSS Mission with the resources needed to support the operations of the Haitian National Police and to implement the measures outlined by the United Nations Security Council, including sanctions and a targeted arms embargo.