After facing opposition from a local court, Kenya plans to send 1,000 police officers to Haiti to spearhead a United Nations-approved operation to combat gang violence. On Friday, March 1, the two countries inked a security accord that Nairobi thinks would appease the Caribbean nation.
Gang Violence
As the violence escalated in 2022, Haiti sought assistance but was unable to secure a nation ready to spearhead a relief effort. Due to the country's history of human rights violations, other countries have been hesitant to step in and support Henry's unelected regime.
Last July, Kenya made public its intention to initiate the effort for Haiti, a country where gangs rule the capital and where violence claimed the lives of over 5,000 people in 2023. The deployment was supposed to take place by January, but the Kenyan High Court declared it unlawful since there was no "reciprocal arrangement" with the government that was hosting it.
The operation has been put on hold as a result of this, even though other nations have sent troops, and the United States and Canada have promised hundreds of millions of dollars for it.
A policeman throws tear gas as people demonstrate the rise in the cost of living in Petit-Goâve, Haiti, on September 14, 2023.
Also Read: Haiti Protests Erupt as Demonstrators Demand Prime Minister Ariel Henry's Resignation
Kenya-Haiti Deal
According to Kenyan President William Ruto, an agreement was struck with Haiti, who made the announcement on Friday, as reported by Reuters.
"I am pleased to inform that [Haitian] Prime Minister Ariel Henry and I have witnessed the signing of this instrument. We have also discussed the next steps to enable the fast-tracking of the deployment," Ruto stated.
Along with Kenya, the Bahamas has pledged 150 people, while Antigua, Barbuda, and Jamaica have expressed their willingness to provide assistance. Just last week, Benin extended an offer of 2,000 soldiers.
A day before the announcement, a gang leader said that a protest against the government resulted in violent fights between gangs, police, and vigilantes in Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti.
