A second contingent of 200 Kenyan police officers arrived in Haiti on Tuesday to bolster the United Nations-backed mission aimed at combating rampant gang violence in the Caribbean nation. This follows the initial deployment of 200 officers nearly a month ago, bringing the total number of Kenyan personnel on the ground to 400. The mission, largely funded by the United States, seeks to stabilize the capital, Port-au-Prince, where gangs control at least 80% of the city.
The Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission has encountered legal and political challenges back home in Nairobi. President William Ruto is dealing with significant anti-government protests and legal battles over the constitutionality of the deployment. Despite these hurdles, the arrival of the second wave of officers marks a significant step in the mission’s phased deployment, which will eventually include 2,500 personnel from several countries, including the Bahamas, Bangladesh, and Jamaica.
Another 200 Kenyan police officers have arrived in Haiti to tackle Haiti violence — in pictures https://t.co/w8O2bAOPOU pic.twitter.com/1eqXwiViuz
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) July 17, 2024
Kenyan policeman praying after arrival in Haiti. The second contigent of 200 officers landed yesterday for the UN mission. pic.twitter.com/V6PrBKhUZ3
— Abuga Makori EGH, MBE (@abuga_makori) July 17, 2024
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