Nearly 20 Police Officers, Including Unit Commander, Step Down in Haiti
Kenyan media is abuzz with reports of nearly 20 police officers stationed in Haiti tendering their resignation letters, according to Reuters.
The revelations highlight growing unrest within the highly publicized mission, casting doubts on its viability as officers express discontent.
Confidential sources told Reuters that the wave of resignations began in October. Officers, initially attempting verbal resignations, were instructed to submit written requests, prompting a formal exit process.
Among the resigning officers are at least five senior members, including a unit commander who reportedly initiated the resignation wave in October.
The root cause, according to the officers, lies in delayed salaries and poor working conditions. Despite submitting resignation letters, they claim no response has been received.
These resignations come from a contingent of 400 Kenyan police officers leading the UN-backed Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in Haiti, with submissions spanning October and November.
Financial struggles plague the mission despite significant U.S. funding—$200 million in October 2023 and an additional $100 million pledged in March 2024, totaling Ksh38 billion in support.
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Inspector General Douglas Kanja, however, dismissed allegations of pay delays, stating that officers received full wages through October. He emphasized that conditions in Haiti had markedly improved due to government efforts.
Yet, officers contradicted these claims, asserting their last payments were in September, fueling their grievances.
President William Ruto continues to champion the mission despite domestic opposition, including court challenges to halt deployment. The initial 400 officers were joined by plans to send an additional 600.
Since their deployment in June, Kenyan forces have reclaimed some territories from gangs, but a resurgence in gang activity since November has intensified challenges.
The United Nations Security Council recently extended the mission’s mandate for another year, while discussions to transition it into a formal UN Peacekeeping Mission face opposition and have been vetoed twice.
Nearly 20 Police Officers, Including Unit Commander, Step Down in Haiti
