A new contingent of 144 Kenyan officers has arrived in Port-au-Prince to support a UN-backed mission

A group of 144 Kenyan police officers arrived in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to reinforce the UN-backed Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) on Thursday. The contingent was greeted by interim Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime and Leslie Voltaire, head of Haiti's presidential transition council.  

Kenya is leading a mission to support Haiti's national police in reclaiming gang-controlled areas, including most of the capital. Nairobi deployed 400 officers in December and over 200 last month. Recent reinforcements bring the total to around 1,000, according to France24. 

According to the UN, at least 5,601 people were killed in gang-related violence in Haiti last year, a thousand more than in 2023. The organization also reported 315 lynchings of suspected gang members and 281 alleged police executions. 

Earlier this week, the UN said that over $13 million in US funding for the MSS mission, which aims to assist local authorities in combating powerful gangs, had been frozen due to President Donald Trump's 90-day pause on foreign aid. However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later issued a waiver to continue support. During a visit to the Dominican Republic, Rubio said he had thanked Kenyan President Ruto for leading the mission. 

"I think it's also important to note, however, that that mission as currently constructed will not be enough," Rubio stated.  

He stressed that the mission should find a new direction to successfully eliminate armed groups "that today have taken possession of large portions of Haitian territory."   

UN chief Antonio Guterres has likewise advocated for increased support to enhance the mission's effectiveness. 

William O'Neill, the UN-designated expert on Haiti, stated on Thursday that the mission plays a vital role in assisting local officers in establishing security. 

"The Haitian National Police are outnumbered and outgunned by the gangs," he noted. "Steady and predictable funding for the (mission) requires all states to contribute, especially those in the region. More stability in Haiti will reduce the pressure to migrate, which is in everyone's interest."