Kenya Police Seize Two Haiti Gang Leaders in Impromptu Raid
Two gang leaders in Haiti were apprehended on Tuesday during a coordinated operation involving officers from the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission.
Kenya, which has sent around 600 police officers as reported by Inspector General of Police nominee Douglas Kanja, is spearheading the international policing effort in the conflict-ridden Caribbean nation.
Members of the Chen Mechan and Pierre 6 gangs are now in custody and being questioned about their gang activities. During the operations, police also confiscated several weapons.
Mr. Godfrey Otunge, the MSS Mission commander, noted that the Kenyan officers, along with the Haiti National Police (HNP), have intensified joint operations over the past three weeks.
“The past three weeks have seen continuous, focused joint security actions by MSS and HNP. These operations led to the dismantling of numerous barricades and the reopening of roads previously blocked by gangs,” Mr. Otunge stated.
The operations targeted gang-dominated regions, including Port-Au-Prince Downtown, Ganthler, Delmas, APN Port, Crole des Bouquets, and Tahare Carrefour.
As part of the mission, a double wall erected by the Mawazo gang on National Road 88 in Croix-Des-Bouquets was demolished.
Located 12.9 kilometers northeast of Haiti’s capital, Port-Au-Prince, Croix-Des-Bouquets’ wall destruction has facilitated smoother vehicle flow and improved local movement.
“Key areas reclaimed and secured include various streets in Delmas that were previously controlled by gangs. This had isolated these areas, with businesses shutting down and locals fleeing,” he added.
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Normalcy is gradually returning to areas like L’avenue Hallé Sélastié, Boulevard Toussaint Louverture, Avenue Henri Christophe, Rue Capols, Avenue Christophe, Avenue Lamartinière, and Rue de la Réunion, among others.
This development follows a recent protest by notorious Haiti gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, also known as Barbecue, who accused Kenyan police of being excessively harsh.
Cherizier alleged that police had fired bullets and used tear gas at his base, even coming close to his location.
Aside from Kenya, only Jamaica has contributed a small contingent of 20 soldiers and four police officers.
Countries considering sending their personnel to Haiti include the Bahamas, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, Italy, Spain, Mongolia, Senegal, Belize, Suriname, Guatemala, and Peru.
The mission is set to conclude next month unless the United Nations Security Council approves a one-year extension, potentially extending its mandate to October 2025.
On Monday, Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Ministry informed Nation that discussions to secure an extension are underway.
Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei explained that peacekeeping missions, such as the one in Haiti led by Kenya, typically have a one-year renewable mandate, with ongoing negotiations for an additional year.
Additional officers from various nations will be deployed in phases, with an estimated annual cost of $600 million. The United Nations has received $68 million of the $85 million pledged for the mission, with significant contributions from the US and Canada.
Kenya Police Seize Two Haiti Gang Leaders in Impromptu Raid
