Haiti’s Fallen Palace Symbolic of Government’s Current State

Photo: Diego Tirira, Creative Commons via Flickr.

Security Forces Arrive in Haiti to Support UN-Backed Mission

A group of security forces from Guatemala and El Salvador arrived in Haiti’s capital on Friday to support a UN-backed mission aimed at restoring order amid violent gang conflicts. The group included 75 Guatemalans and eight Salvadorans. Haiti’s transitional president Leslie Voltaire, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime, and U.S. Ambassador Dennis Hankins welcomed the troops at Port-au-Prince airport.

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo had previously pledged 150 military police, while El Salvador promised 78 soldiers and three helicopters for medical evacuations. Despite these reinforcements, the mission, led by Kenya with 400 police officers, has struggled to curb escalating violence, with gangs expanding territory and causing thousands to flee their homes. So far, only a fraction of the 3,100 troops pledged by 10 countries have been deployed.

Kenya’s Commitment and Other Countries’ Pledges

Kenya had originally pledged to deploy 1,000 police officers to Haiti as part of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission, aiming to assist in combating gang violence and restoring order. As of October 2024, approximately 400 Kenyan officers have been deployed, with the remaining 600 undergoing training, but no information is available as to when additional Kenyan forces might arrive. In addition to Kenya’s commitment, other countries have collectively pledged at least 1,900 more troops to support the mission, but whether this will come to reality remains to be seen.

Haitian Leadership’s Recent Visit to Colombia

The Haitian leadership made a recent visit to Colombia, and in the light of the arrivals from Guatemala and El Salvador, it seems possible that a deal with that country is also on the cards.

Former Senator’s Ultimatum to Transitional Presidential Council

Meanwhile in Haiti, former senator Moïse Jean Charles has given an ultimatum to the transitional presidential council, demanding changes in how the country is being governed. Speaking on Magik 9 radio, he stated that his political group, Pitit Desalin, will not take a “political vacation” if the council does not adjust its leadership approach. He gave the council one week to reflect and make changes.

Moïse Jean Charles threatened to protest in front of the council, “shut down the government headquarters,” and “head to the Court of Cassation.” He also called for unity within the council to find solutions to the country’s problems and urged the council to remove those living in schools, public squares, and camps. It is not clear if Mr. Charles has any better ideas on how to manage the disorder in Haiti. In January 2022, Jean-Charles was detained by U.S. authorities during a layover in Miami while returning from Nigeria. He was interrogated about his travels, spent the night in detention, and was subsequently deported to Haiti. His U.S. visa was canceled, and he was banned from re-entering the United States for five years.

Conclusion

The situation in Haiti remains dire, with gang violence and disorder continuing to plague the country. The arrival of security forces from Guatemala and El Salvador is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to restore order and stability. The Haitian leadership must work together to find solutions to the country’s problems and address the root causes of the violence.

FAQs

* What is the current situation in Haiti?
The country is experiencing violent gang conflicts and disorder, with gangs expanding territory and causing thousands to flee their homes.
* What is the UN-backed mission aimed at restoring order in Haiti?
The mission is led by Kenya with 400 police officers and aims to assist in combating gang violence and restoring order.
* How many troops have been pledged to support the mission?
At least 3,100 troops have been pledged by 10 countries, but only a fraction have been deployed so far.
* What is the situation with Kenya’s commitment to the mission?
Kenya had originally pledged to deploy 1,000 police officers, but only 400 have been deployed so far, with the remaining 600 undergoing training.