In a bold move aimed at quelling the escalating gang warfare in Haiti, Kenya has announced its commitment to deploy hundreds of police officers to the Caribbean nation by January. This intervention is expected to tackle the pressing issue of spiraling gang violence that has plagued Haiti for the past year, prompting a plea for international assistance from the Haitian government.
Gangs in Haiti have effectively overwhelmed the local police, gaining control over more than three-quarters of the capital city. Initially, Kenyan officials discussed sending around 1,000 officers to Haiti with the primary objective of training local law enforcement and safeguarding critical installations. However, Kenya’s Foreign Minister, Alfred Mutua, has declared that this mission will evolve into an intervention force tasked with disarming what he referred to as “thugs and gangs.”
In an exclusive interview with the BBC, Foreign Minister Alfred Mutua stated that the Kenyan police force’s mission in Haiti extends beyond conventional peacekeeping. They will actively engage in liberating Haitians who have fallen victim to kidnappings and rescuing women subjected to sexual assault. Mutua expressed optimism that the deployment would not lead to substantial violence.
Nevertheless, this endeavor has not been without its critics. Some voices have questioned the rationale behind sending Kenyan officers over 12,000 kilometers (7,500 miles) away to intervene in Haiti when Kenya itself grapples with numerous internal law and order challenges. Rights groups have long accused Kenyan police of committing atrocities, including extrajudicial killings and torture.
By xamse
September 27, 2023
