Additional Coverage:
- Haiti’s prime minister says Kenya police is crucial to controlling gangs, calls early days positive (newsbreak.com)
At the United Nations, Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille praised the effectiveness of the newly arrived Kenyan police force in tackling gang violence in Haiti, describing their early impact in the capital as overwhelmingly positive. During his address to the U.N. Security Council, Conille emphasized his government’s priorities which include curbing gang-related violence, addressing food shortages, electoral reform for free and fair elections, and restoring public confidence in local law enforcement.
The first group of 200 Kenyan officers landed in Port-au-Prince on June 25, representing the initial phase of a larger commitment of 1,000 officers by Kenya to an international police force. Conille mentioned more officers from Kenya are expected soon, with eventual reinforcements from other nations like the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Chad, and Jamaica, culminating in a total force of 2,500 members.
This international response comes after Haiti formally requested aid in 2022 to battle rampant gang activities. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres had long sought a lead nation for this initiative until Kenya stepped forward.
Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse on July 7, 2021, gangs have significantly escalated their control, currently dominating as much as 80% of the capital. This power surge has sparked severe violence including increased murders, sexual assaults, and abductions, prompting civilians to form vigilante groups.
Appointed prime minister by a transitional council last month, Conille, an ex-U.N. development specialist, is tasked with stabilizing Haiti ahead of planned democratic elections in February 2026. He underscored the urgency of leveraging all available resources to ensure this transition marks a definitive move towards peace, security, and sustainable growth for Haiti.
In addition to operational coordination between Kenyan and Haitian police officers now underway, Haiti’s recent afflictions encompass coordinated gang assaults on key infrastructures such as airports and prisons, prompting the resignation of former Prime Minister Ariel Henry this past April.
The unfolding crisis has displaced over 580,000 Haitians, more than half of whom are children, and has plunged over 4 million citizens into food insecurity as reported by the World Food Program.
Acknowledging the mixed results of past foreign interventions, which have included violations of human rights and local customs, Conille stressed the need for a finely tuned operational approach to this international police mission to avoid repeating historical errors.
During the U.N. meeting, calls were made for immediate financial support from the global community, with the Dominican Republic urging prompt contributions to the fund supporting the police operations. While the United States has committed $309 million, the highest pledge by any nation, these funds have yet to be disbursed.
Amid discussions, Russia criticized the U.S. for not effectively curbing arms smuggling to Haitian gangs. However, the U.S. reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing the arms embargo, indicating ongoing efforts to address the issue.