The Prime Minister of Haiti, Garry Conille, has revealed that the Caribbean nation remains far from overcoming its battle with armed gangs.
Speaking at an event on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Conille stressed the need for greater international support.
“We are nowhere near winning this, and the simple reality is that we won’t without your help. There is a sense of urgency because the Haitian people are watching with cautious optimism; they’re really hoping to see clear results,” he said.
Haiti has faced violence for years, but the situation worsened in February when gangs attacked prisons and key government institutions across the capital, Port-au-Prince.
Reports suggest there are approximately 200 armed gangs in the country, with around 20 operating in Port-au-Prince alone.
According to The New York Times, these groups vary in size, from small units of a few dozen young men sharing pistols to larger organizations with roughly 1,500 members, wielding automatic weapons and receiving weekly salaries.
Two major gang federations, G-Pèp and the G-9 Family, control many of the poorest areas of the capital.
So far, around 10 countries have pledged more than 3,100 troops to the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM).
However, only 424 troops have been deployed: 400 police officers from Kenya and 24 from Jamaica.
Also Read: Ruto Announces New Plan for Kenyan Police in Haiti
Kenya to Deploy More Police to Haiti
The U.N. Security Council approved the MSSM for 12 months, with the mandate set to expire in early October.
Kenya’s President William Ruto visited Haiti on September 22 to assess the progress of the mission, led by Kenya’s National Police Service (NPS).
Ruto expressed Kenya’s readiness to transition the MSSM into a full U.N. peacekeeping operation if the Security Council so decides.
He also committed to deploying 600 additional police officers to Haiti, saying they were undergoing redeployment training and would be ready in a few weeks.
“Our next batch, an additional 600, is undergoing redeployment training. We will be mission-ready in a few weeks’ time and look forward to the requisite support to enable their deployment,” he said.
Also Read: Kenya to Deploy 600 More Police Officers to Haiti
Ruto’s Plea to International Community
Ruto called on the international community to provide essential resources, personnel, equipment, and logistics, to accelerate the mission’s goals of restoring peace and stability in Haiti.
He also urged Haitian leaders, citizens, and sectors of society to seize this moment of relative calm to push for meaningful change.
“The mission is here to create a space where you can reclaim your nation’s security and shape your future,” Ruto concluded.
The President noted that the decision to send Kenyan officers to Haiti raised many questions. Kenya dispatched the first contingent in June 2023.
He, however, maintained that it was the right thing to do, stating that the move demonstrated Kenya’s unwavering commitment to international peace and security.
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