Kenya Police Collaborate with Haitian Forces to Combat Gang Violence in Port-au-Prince

Kenya police, in collaboration with Haitian authorities, conducted operations in Port-au-Prince to reclaim territories from gang control, resulting in the arrest of dozens and the seizure of weapons. The efforts are part of a sustained initiative following a devastating attack that claimed numerous lives. Troops from Kenya, alongside those from other nations, are assisting in stabilizing Haiti amidst a severe humanitarian crisis.

Kenyan police, in collaboration with local Haitian law enforcement, successfully conducted operations targeting criminal gangs in the greater Port-au-Prince area, resulting in the recovery of various weapons and the arrest of numerous suspects. Under the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS), law enforcement teams undertook raids on several gang strongholds on October 21, focusing on regions including Artibonite and the wider Western departments. The MSS Force Commander, Godfrey Otunge, indicated that the operations are part of a sustained effort to restore peace in gang-controlled territories. This initiative follows a severe attack in Pont Sonde that claimed over 115 lives, prompting the immediate reinforcement of security forces in the area. The primary aim of this operation was to apprehend Elan Luckson, the notorious leader of the Gran Griff gang, who orchestrated the aforementioned massacre. “Despite the gang’s frantic efforts to dig trenches, ditches and put barricades on the roads to impede access to their hideouts, the joint MSS and HNP resolute teams went for them and smocked them out of their hideouts where Luckson (the notorious gang leader) escaped by a whisker,” stated Commander Otunge. To access the gangs’ fortifications, teams of MSS and Haiti National Police utilized sand to fill in dug trenches obstructing their entry. The operation concluded at “Pat Chwal,” situated in the municipality of Saint-Marc, where officers seized assorted weapons including a Mossberg 12 GA rifle, a counterfeit pistol, mobile phones, and police-issued bulletproof vests. A Forward Operating Base (FOB) has been established in the vicinity to bolster ongoing operations. Commander Otunge expressed gratitude to the local populace for their active involvement, stating, “We wish to equally thank the civilians who turned up in large numbers to help fill and load the sandbags that were used to fill up the trenches that the gangs had dug to impede access to their hideouts.” Kenya’s deployment is part of a broader initiative including contributions from troops from the Bahamas, Belize, and Jamaica, aimed at curbing the violent gang activities destabilizing Haiti. The dire humanitarian situation in Haiti remains profound, with over 700,000 people displaced and an estimated five million facing food insecurity, as reported by the United Nations. In response to the escalating crisis, the United Nations Security Council has authorized a one-year extension of the MSS’s mandate, although a proposal to elevate the MSS to a U.N. peacekeeping mission was withdrawn due to opposition from Russia and China. Recent operations have reported significant casualties among gang members, including the severe injury of Deshomme, the second leader of the Kraze baryè gang, during a conflict that resulted in twenty gang fatalities. Further calls for increased personnel deployment continue for enhanced efficacy in the ongoing operations.

The ongoing crisis in Haiti has been exacerbated by the rampant activities of criminal gangs, which have significantly undermined public safety and stability within the nation. The recent surge in violence, highlighted by attacks such as the one in Pont Sonde, necessitated an intervention by foreign police forces, specifically from Kenya and allied nations. The Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) aims to address escalating gang violence and facilitate humanitarian assistance amid a severe socio-economic crisis that has displaced many and left millions in dire need of sustenance.

The coordinated raids conducted by Kenyan and Haitian law enforcement underscore a significant commitment to combating the threat posed by criminal gangs in Haiti. Through strategic operations that prioritize public safety, the joint forces aim to dismantle gang infrastructure and restore security to affected communities. The challenges are substantial, yet the involvement of multinational forces brings hope for stability and peace in the region.

Original Source: www.the-star.co.ke