Reports from credible news agencies and statements from UN or Haitian government officials

150 Central American Officers Join UN-Backed, Kenya-Led Mission to Combat Gangs in Haiti

Jan 4, 2025, 06:42 PM

About 150 military police officers from Central America, primarily 75 Guatemalans and 8 Salvadorans, have arrived in Haiti to reinforce the embattled government's fight against violent gangs. The deployment, greeted by top Haitian authorities, security officials, and the U.S. Ambassador to Haiti, Dennis Hankins on Friday, is part of a United Nations-backed mission aimed at restoring order in the country. A second, similarly sized contingent was expected to arrive on Saturday. The mission, led by Kenya, has been struggling to quell violence since coordinated gang attacks intensified following the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise. Gangs are estimated to control about 85% of the capital, Port-au-Prince. A notable recent attack occurred on Christmas Eve when gunmen fired on a crowd at the reopening of Haiti's largest public hospital, resulting in the deaths of two journalists and a police officer. Prior to this week's deployment, the mission was supported by around 400 Kenyan security officers, with additional personnel pledged from Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, and Chad, though their deployment timeline remains unclear.