215 Kenyan police return from Haiti

A contingent of 215 Kenyan police officers returned to Kenya on Tuesday night after completing their deployment in Haiti, where they were part of the United Nations-backed Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission aimed at stabilising the country.

“Two hundred and fifteen police officers, who formed the second contingent of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission to Haiti, have safely returned home. The officers were part of our 2023 deployment to support efforts to stabilise Haiti and assist the Haitian National Police in restoring public order in areas affected by insecurity,” the Ministry of the Interior said in a statement.

The officers were welcomed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by Inspector General Douglas Kanja, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, and other senior security officials.

Their return coincides with a transition in the MSS mission. The first contingent of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), composed of Chadian troops currently being trained in the United States, is scheduled for deployment to Haiti on April 1.

“The deployment will begin on April 1st, and the full GSF deployment will reach 5,500 troops by October 2026,” said Dominican Republic Foreign Affairs Minister Roberto Álvarez, following a briefing with the US ambassadors to Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Under the new arrangement, Kenyan personnel will be withdrawn gradually as the Chadian contingent is phased in.

Gang violence in Haiti has severely undermined security, displacing an estimated 1.5 million people, many already affected by extreme poverty. Political instability and weak governance have also contributed to regional security concerns, including drug and weapons trafficking and migration.

The United Nations has emphasised that any lasting political solution must be Haitian-led. Efforts are underway to support Haitian authorities in organising municipal, parliamentary, and presidential elections. Haiti has not had an elected president since the assassination of Jovenel Moïse on July 7, 2021.

The UN’s designated expert on human rights in Haiti, William O’Neil, said the ongoing crisis has caused “massive suffering for the Haitian people, especially the most vulnerable.” He added that “the liberation of territory from gangs and a more ‘motivated and visible’ police presence are offering a glimmer of hope for Haitians amid ongoing violence and insecurity.”

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The Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) has registered 320 political parties and organisations for the upcoming election and is expected to publish the final list of qualified entities on March 26. Authorities hope elections will be held later this year.

Kenya first deployed an initial contingent of 400 officers to Port-au-Prince on June 25, 2024, in a move aimed at helping restore order in a country plagued by armed gangs and political uncertainty.