Stay in Kenya, Gangs Warn Haiti PM as He Signs Deal
In a brief portrayal of swiftly shifting circumstances, Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry is currently in Nairobi to finalize a mutual agreement at a time when his own country is experiencing intense challenges.
A group of gangs has the intention of apprehending the ministers and the chief of police in an effort to prevent Dr. Henry from returning. This could result in Dr. Henry being forced into exile in Kenya, where he assumed power in 2021 following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.
The gangs are led by Jimmy Chérizier, alias Barbecue. The Haiti Libre quoted him saying: “Today, February 29, 2024, we launch the battle that must overthrow the prime minister and his government. This is our first objective. We must stop them and send them to join Ariel Henry where he is so that he never returns to the country.”
Yesterday, Haiti experienced widespread disorder amid heavy rainfall, as numerous news sources highlighted extensive devastation. Meanwhile, Kenya made headlines due to Dr. Henry’s visit and its intention to dispatch police forces to restore order in the conflict-ridden nation, where more than 80 percent of the capital is under the control of gangs.
On numerous occasions, Dr. Henry has declared elections, yet none have transpired since he assumed office. Haiti currently lacks duly elected representatives. According to Haiti Libre, coordinated gang attacks targeted the capital on Thursday.
“All activities were paralysed. Schools, businesses and public institutions closed their doors. Shootings were heard throughout the capital and its surroundings, the provisional human toll was heavy and the damage significant.”
The recent decrease in violence is a sign of the opportunistic nature that characterizes Haiti’s security and political landscape. In 2022, the UK, Canada, and the US imposed sanctions on Barbecue due to significant human rights violations, leading to the freezing of his assets, dealings, and interactions with entities from these countries.
Haitian gang leaders
And the UN took a cue, imposing more sanctions on Haitian gang leaders in December last year. The gangs have fronted an argument that foreign security missions deployed in Haiti would be illegal and unwelcome, even though their reign is no better alternative.
Should Dr. Henry successfully make it back to Haiti, it would mark a modest triumph for him, particularly considering the recent attack on the airport by gangs. On Friday, President William Ruto emphasized the significance of the bilateral agreement, stating that it reflects Kenya’s historic responsibility, as the High Court had determined that the absence of such an arrangement made overseas police deployment illegal. Ruto also highlighted the global benefits of promoting peace in Haiti.
The next steps for Kenya involve presenting the agreement to Parliament for ratification and submitting it to the Court of Appeal. The redeployment can only commence if the Court of Appeal overturns the earlier nullification by the High Court.
How did Kenya get ‘close’ to Haiti? “Kenya associates itself with the people of Haiti because of our common heritage,” Dr Ruto said on Thursday.
“We are offering the experience and expertise of our police officers on the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in Haiti as mandated by the United Nations Security Council and as guided by our courts.”
Haiti and Nairobi did not share direct historical connections, but they were linked through their common membership in the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States.
Diplomatic ties between Kenya and Haiti were only established in September of the previous year. Haiti, having achieved independence in 1804 as the first black-majority nation to do so, has a history marked by considerable instability, including 33 coups and coup attempts, along with four presidential assassinations.
So, when the US reached out to Kenya, it was an opportunity to support “a great friend and true sibling,” as Dr Ruto put it at the UN General Assembly last year. “Kenya is ready to play its part in full, and join with a coalition of other nations of goodwill – and there are many – as a great friend and true sibling of Haiti,” Ruto said.
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Kenya’s image was elevated further after President Joe Biden lobbied for Nairobi’s lead role. He praised Dr Ruto for his “willingness to serve as lead nation of the UN security support mission” to Haiti. “The people of Haiti cannot wait much longer,” he said.
The United States has committed approximately $200 million in direct financial and technical assistance for the MSS.
The appeal of financial stability and the opportunity to promote itself internationally proved too tempting to resist. Nairobi leveraged its past military missions under the UN in foreign countries to support its argument.
However, the situation in Haiti involved a police deployment, a unique occurrence under the current arrangement. Nairobi identified a Haiti in distress. With decentralized gangs causing chaos in terms of security, the Haitian government has struggled to establish a sense of safety. During the last outbreak of violence, approximately 300 people lost their lives within a week.
The incidents of violence on Thursday and the following day may result in a more significant impact. According to a United Nations report, the period from April to June in the previous year saw a surge in the number of reported casualties, with 1,860 people killed, injured, or abducted in Haiti. This marked a 14% increase from the first quarter of 2023.
Police mission
Nevertheless, the general public appears to be split on the necessity of a foreign police mission. Haiti’s police service, consisting of 10,000 personnel, serves a population of 11 million. A survey conducted by local business lobbies, two months prior to the authorization of deployment through UN Security Council Resolution 2699, gauged public sentiment towards the mission. The results indicated that 70% of respondents support the deployment.
A study conducted by the Alliance for Risk Management and Business Continuity, an organization focused on assessing investment risks in Haiti, revealed that a significant number of the 1,387 individuals interviewed expressed doubt about the Haitian National Police’s ability to effectively handle gang-related issues.
“The majority of respondents (around 60 per cent) felt that the PNH alone was not capable of restoring security in the country. As for the PNH’s ability to solve the problem of the proliferation of armed gangs in the country, 56 per cent of respondents expressed a lack of confidence in the PNH,” the report said. “Sixty-three per cent of Haitians believe it is necessary to deploy an international force to help guarantee security.”
The report, nonetheless, delegated the decision on the type of international assistance to be provided to capable Haitian authorities.
Due to the prevailing political instability, nations sending law enforcement personnel must navigate the entire territory. Haiti, in its current state, holds the authority to determine the specific areas where foreign missions are permitted to employ force. Additionally, cooperation with the MSS is mandatory.
In addition to Kenya, Benin, Antigua and Barbuda, and Spain have committed to dispatching personnel. Canada, France, and the UK have also pledged their support for the mission. The UN Secretary General has established a fund to which contributors can contribute funds. The deployment of troops is slated for an initial period of one year, contingent upon the UN Security Council’s renewal of the mandate.
Stay in Kenya, Gangs Warn Haiti PM as He Signs Deal
