The United States has announced that civilian contractors have arrived in Haiti to build living quarters for a Kenyan-led international security force ahead of deployment.
In a statement on March 9, 2024, the U.S military’s Southern Command said that the contractors touched base at the capital Port-au-Prince’s Toussaint Louverture International Airport.
The contractors arrived in the Caribbean nation to build bases for the security force led by Kenyan officers meant to quell gang violence in the country.
According to Reuters, U.S. military aircraft flew civilian contractors to Haiti from May 3 to May 5.
The contractors were flown into the country to secure equipment and supplies arriving in the country.
“Additional contractors who have recently been transported are there to set up the temporary living area for the eventual arrival of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission,” said the Southern Command.
The contractors arrived after the U.S military on May 7, 2024, announced that it had started deploying elements in the country ahead of the deployment.
U.S Makes Advances in Haiti Mission
According to US officials, the operation is coordinated by the US Southern Command, with US military planes also transporting equipment and supplies.
“These personnel will be working alongside Haitian airport officials to secure the equipment and supplies that have arrived in Haiti,” the Southern Command said in a statement.
Also Read: Ruto Announces Next Move for Kenya Police in Haiti After Key Development
The command further stressed that this mission was made possible due to the continued support and coordination with the Haitian stakeholders who are working to keep the airport open and operations continuing.
US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman had in March revealed the strategy that the US government had put in place ahead of planned deployment.
Whitman in a statement said that the US Department of State would establish a camp in Haiti for Kenyan security forces ahead of their deployment.
According to the ambassador, the mission is a complicated one, hence requires retraining and vetting of the police.
“This is a very complicated mission it is not a UN peace keeping mission. It is a different kind of mission so the police need to be trained, vetted and the department of defense needs to set up a camp in Haiti where the police force will go,” she stated.
The U.N. Security Council approved the creation of the Multinational Security Support mission in the Carribean nation back in October 2023.
This mission was aimed at helping Haitian police wrest back territory from alliances of gangs who control most of the capital Port-au-Prince.
Also Read: Ruto Announces New Development in Haiti, Gives Way Forward on Police Deployment
Kenya is set to deploy 1,000 officers to lead the force, but the deployment suffered setbacks which resulted to delays.
Mission delayed
First, a High Court ruling declared the deployment unconstitutional with a surge of violence in Port-au-Prince that forced the Prime Minister Ariel Henry to resign in March, also contributing to the delay.
However, President William Ruto in a statement on April 25 announced that Kenya was ready to rapidly execute security support.
His announcement came following the swearing in of the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) in Haiti.
The head of state indicated that the new leadership would be crucial in easing the political transition of the country and ensuring that key organs are reestablished.
Additionally, he said that the TPC would ensure the restoration of law and order among Haitians, bringing hope to the communities.
The swearing in of the TPC according to him had addressed the delayed deployment and Kenya was discussing how to proceed.
Furthermore, the deployment of the multinational security force led by Kenyan police had been suspended until a transition council took power in Haiti.
Jamaica, the Bahamas, Barbados, Benin, Chad and Bangladesh have also pledged personnel to the force.
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