Prime Minister of Haiti Garry Conille on Saturday, October 5, scheduled to travel to Kenya and the United Arab Emirates to seek security support in response to a gang attack in one of its regions on Thursday, October 3.
According to Reuters, a gang by the name ‘Gran Grif’ raided Pont-Sonde town in the western Artibonite region killed at least 70 people, and led to the displacement of 6,000 residents.
The gang’s leader, Luckson Elan, stated that the attack was carried out as revenge for civilians staying passive while police and vigilante groups targeted and killed his gang members.
It is reported that Gran Grif is the largest gang in Haiti’s Artibonite region, according to security analysts.
Haiti Prime Minister to travel to Kenya and UAE
Before departing for the United Arab Emirates and Kenya, Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille addressed the media, highlighting the multiple challenges his country is facing.
“As you can see, we are being attacked on several fronts,” he remarked during the press conference.
Conille said his visit to Kenya was to discuss how he and President Ruto could expedite the reinforcement of other police officers in Kenya.
“One of the aims of this trip is to go to Kenya to discuss with President Ruto how we can speed up the deployment of remnants of the Kenyan troops as quickly as possible to continue supporting the national police force,” Conille said.
Also Read: UN Security Council Extends Kenya Police Term in Haiti
At the same time, Conille said he would discuss with his counterpart in the United Arab Emirates how they can find regular flows to help the Haitian national police combat security.
Conille’s seek of support comes days after President William Ruto pledged to send 600 more police officers to Haiti to help fight gangs controlling some parts of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and nearby areas.
UN extends MSS mission
On September 26, Haitian transitional President Edgard Leblanc Fils addressed the UN General Assembly, warning that his country faces an “unprecedented security crisis”.
“Citizens are living in fear of even moving about freely or going to school, particularly around the capital Port-au-Prince,” he said at the General Assembly’s high-level debate, urging continued UN support.
Last week on September 30, the United Nations (UN) Security Council renewed its authorization for deployment of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to Haiti for 12 months which is led by Kenya and is coordinated with the Haitian National Police.
Also Read: Ruto Speaks on Next Police Deployment to Haiti at UNGA [Full Speech]
Although Kenya has deployed its police officers to help restore order in Haiti, the mission has seen limited progress.
Currently, only around 400 officers, predominantly from Kenya, are stationed in the Caribbean nation.
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