Kenyan President William Ruto arrived in Haiti on Saturday, joining the United Nations efforts to support a peacekeeping mission involving Kenyan and Jamaican forces. These forces are struggling to contain the gangs that are terrorizing the Caribbean nation.
Stepping off the plane, Ruto was greeted by armed officers and officials, making his way to a Kenyan base at the airport where he was expected to meet with police battling the gangs.
Kenya was the first nation to send forces to support Haiti’s peacekeeping mission, which was initiated after the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse plunged the country into conflict and political turmoil.
The current presence of about 400 Kenyan police in Haiti, along with soldiers from Jamaica, is deemed insufficient to combat the gangs that control a significant portion of the capital, Port-au-Prince. The United States and other countries have expressed concerns about the lack of resources and personnel dedicated to this mission.
The peacekeeping mission is expected to reach a total of 2,500 personnel, with additional support from countries like the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, and Chad. However, the timeframe for their deployment remains unclear.
While the idea of a U.N. peacekeeping force has been discussed, concerns have been raised due to past incidents of cholera outbreaks and sexual abuse cases involving U.N. troops in Haiti.
Recent reports suggest that gang violence in Haiti is escalating, with the National Police still lacking the necessary resources to combat these criminal groups effectively. Gangs are expanding their control over new territories, posing a growing threat to the country.
Ruto’s visit coincides with Haiti’s establishment of a provisional electoral council, a crucial step towards organizing the first general election since 2016. With a power vacuum following Moïse’s assassination, gangs have sought to capitalize on the instability, underscoring the importance of restoring order through both electoral and peacekeeping efforts.
Source: The Associated Press. (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.)
