Kenyan police advance team withdraws from Haiti amid deployment delays: summary

Residents run after hearing gunfire as the government said it would extend a state of emergency for another month after an escalation in violence from gangs seeking to oust the Prime Minister Ariel Henry, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, March 7, 2024. REUTERS/Ralph Tedy Erol

Source: REUTERS

What we know

Kenyan police personnel who were deployed to assess preparedness before the full multinational force arrives in Haiti have left following delays with the planned deployment.
The delays were due to logistical issues. President Ruto said the deployment which was scheduled for this week will be delayed for three weeks.
Kenya’s police force is leading a multinational force being deployed to help tackle violence in Hati. The team is expected to operate from a base built in Haiti where armoury and other weapons will be stored.
However, the bases are only 70% completed amidst challenges including the lack of vehicles for operations. These resources are required before the first batch of 200 police officers arrive in Kenya.
The advanced team arrived in Haiti on May 21 to meet Haitian police and the transitional presidential council. The meetings were held on May 21 and May 23 respectively.

What they said

Earlier, U.S. President Joe Biden had expressed appreciation to Kenya’s President William Ruto for consenting for his police force to lead the mission to quell violence in Haiti. During a visit by the Kenyan President to the U.S, Biden said, “I thank President Ruto of Kenya for his willingness to serve as a lead nation of the UN-backed security support mission. I call on the security mission to authorize this mission now. The people of Haiti can’t wait much longer.”

Wonder Hagan