Kenyan Police on Patrol in Haitian Capital

Kenyan police officers, outfitted with body armor and automatic firearms, patrolled the streets of Port-au-Prince in Haiti. The initial U.N.-backed foreign police unit landed in June to tackle the surging gang violence.

Presently, criminal groups control 80% of the capital, displacing more than 580,000 individuals. Positioned close to the international airport, the officers garnered attention without engaging in any clashes with the gangs.

Haiti’s Prime Minister Garry Conille conveyed appreciation for the Multinational Security Support Mission, stressing the critical necessity of addressing violence instigated by armed factions.

The initial group of Kenyan police officers, in collaboration with Haitian law enforcement units, will receive additional support from police and military forces from the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Chad, and Jamaica, boosting the total personnel count to 2,500.

This deployment is in line with Security Council Resolution 2699, providing optimism for the people of Haiti.