Hundreds of Kenyan police officers have landed in Haiti as part of a US-backed multinational security intervention aimed at curbing rampant gang violence that has plunged the Caribbean nation into chaos. The first contingent of about 400 officers arrived at Port-au-Prince's international airport on Tuesday, marking the start of a mission that will eventually comprise 2,500 personnel from multiple countries.
US President Joe Biden welcomed the deployment, stating that the people of Haiti deserve to feel safe in their homes and enjoy democratic freedoms. The mission, led by Kenyan senior officer Noor Gabow, aims to secure key infrastructure such as the airport, port, presidential palace, and gang-controlled highways. The force will also include personnel and financial support from Benin, Jamaica, the Bahamas, and several other nations.
Haiti's crisis has deepened since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, with gangs launching a coordinated uprising that paralysed the capital and forced Prime Minister Ariel Henry to resign. The UN reports that over 2,500 people have been killed or wounded this year alone. Garry Conille, a former Unicef official, has been appointed as Henry's replacement and tasked with leading the country towards its first elections since 2016.
Public reaction in Port-au-Prince has been mixed. Some Haitians, like displaced vendor Evelyne Jean, expressed relief at the arrival of foreign forces, saying they should have come sooner. Others, such as barber Isaïe Delson, voiced concerns about foreign intervention, recalling the controversial UN stabilisation mission Minustah, which was accused of human rights abuses and causing a cholera outbreak. Delson noted a recent decrease in shootings but remained conflicted about the presence of foreign troops.
The 2024 mission is the fourth large-scale foreign intervention in Haiti's history, following US-led operations in 1915, 1994, and the UN mission from 2004 to 2017. Kenyan President William Ruto stated that the officers would bring hope and relief to communities torn apart by violence, while Biden emphasised that Haitians deserve what people everywhere deserve: safety, stability, and democracy.
