A contingent of 400 Kenyan police officers has landed in Port-au-Prince, Haiti to tackle armed gangs and support election processes, as part of a broader multinational effort spearheaded by the United Nations.
On June 25, 2024, a contingent of 400 Kenyan police officers arrived in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, as part of a United Nations (U.N.)-approved mission to restore order in the country. This deployment follows a request made over 18 months ago by then-Prime Minister Ariel Henry. The primary goal is to combat heavily armed gangs controlling over 80% of the capital and enable the holding of elections.
Kenyan President William Ruto expressed hopeful sentiments for the mission, emphasizing its potential to bring relief to the violence-stricken communities. The U.S., having played a significant role in recruiting countries and organizing funding and logistics for the mission, has stated that no U.S. forces will be sent. President Joe Biden emphasized the humanitarian need behind the initiative.
The Caribbean nation of Haiti has a long history of foreign interventions, many of which have been counterproductive. The current mission is part of a broader multinational effort that could expand to 2,500 officers, including personnel from countries like the Bahamas, Bangladesh, and Jamaica.
Despite the mixed feelings among Haitians due to past experiences with international interventions, the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti welcomed the Kenyans’ arrival, calling it a crucial step toward securing the country.