Additional Coverage:
- As UN meets, Haitians express hopelessness at finding an international solution to gang crisis (newsbreak.com)
Haitians Skeptical of International Help in Gang Crisis
Despite discussions at the United Nations about addressing Haiti’s gang violence, Haitians remain pessimistic about the effectiveness of international efforts.
The current UN-backed force of Kenyan and Jamaican police has made little progress in curbing gang activity that has plagued Haiti since President Moïse’s assassination in 2021. Kenya has pledged additional officers, but there’s resistance to a full-fledged UN peacekeeping mission due to concerns over past abuses.
Haitians like Mario Canteve have lost faith in international promises, believing that a new mission will not solve the crisis. They have formed vigilante groups to fight gangs, highlighting their lack of confidence in external solutions.
Moise Jean-Pierre, a school teacher, recalls previous UN missions as a "waste of time." Experts acknowledge the ineffectiveness of past interventions by the US and UN.
Some hope that elections planned for next year will provide a Haitian-led solution. However, violence remains a major obstacle, with Canteve questioning the feasibility of holding elections amid the chaos.