Kenyan police begin patrols in Haiti, gangs vow 'to fight'

Haiti's former government first requested the force's support in 2022 and the first deployment of Kenyan police arrived this week, although it is unclear when the rest of the force will arrive.

Members of the Kenyan police force land in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, June 25, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Ralph Tedy EROL

Kenyan police in khaki uniforms with bulletproof vests and helmets patrol the city in black armored vehicles, and Port-au-Prince residents say they hope the force can stop the indiscriminate killings and allow businesses to reopen.

"We need peace. The Kenyan police are here so we can go back to our old lives. We hope they have come to do their job seriously," said resident Kloud Dine.

“We need Kenyans to stay here for a while because the gang members are causing us so much pain,” said an artist named Louise Baret.

In a video shared on social media on Wednesday, gang leader Jimmy "Barbecue" Cherizier called on armed gunmen to shoot at Kenyan police and pledged to fight to the death: "I don't care if they're white or black. If they're not Haitian and they're on Haitian soil, they're invaders."

More than half a million people in the country have been forced to flee their homes due to violence and about half the population is facing food shortages.

The US government has pledged financial and logistical support for international security forces in Haiti. The Guardian reports that international humanitarian organizations are stepping up relief efforts in Haiti, providing food, water and medicine to those affected by the violence.

Although the arrival of Kenyan police forces has brought hope to the people of Port-au-Prince, many remain concerned about the possibility of further violence.

The NY Times reported that analysts warned that restoring order and security in Haiti would be a long and complex task, requiring close cooperation between international forces and local authorities.

Cao Phong (according to CNN, NY Times, CNA)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/canh-sat-kenya-bat-dau-tuan-tra-tai-haiti-bang-dang-the-chien-dau-post301789.html