Kenya has halted the deployment of police officers to Haiti which was part of a mission meant to tame gang crimes in the troubled Carribean nation.
The government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that the deployment has been put on hold following the announcement by Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry that he would be stepping down from his position.
According to the Principal Secretary (PS) for Foreign Affairs Korir Sing’oei, the decision came about following the resignation of the Prime Minister on Tuesday, March 12, 2024.
PS Sing’oei while speaking to the press said that the deployment would not be possible as without a political administration in Haiti, there was no anchor on which the planned deployment could rest.
Sing’oei further added that the country will wait for the installation of a new constitutional authority before further decisions are made.
The United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2699 in October 2023 which authorized a multinational security support mission to Haiti.
Kenya accepted to lead the coordination of this international mission having been requested by member States, pledging to deploy around 1,000 police officers to Haiti as part of an international force in a bid to combat the gang violence.
On October 13, 2023, the National Security Council and Cabinet approved the deployment of 1,000 police officers, with the Parliament unanimously approving this deployment in November.
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However, the deployment faced a hurdle after it was held through a High Court ruling that declared the deployment unconstitutional after a subsequent petition was filed in court.
Kenya Signs Deal with Haiti
Despite the court ruling, Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henri jetted into the country where he signed in an instrument that would enable the deployment of Kenyan police officers in the Caribbean nation.
In a statement on March 1, 2024, President William Ruto noted that the signing of the reciprocal instrument between the two countries on the multi-national security support mission in Haiti was done after the two leaders held a meeting at the State House in Nairobi.
“Today, March 1, 2024, I am pleased to inform that Prime Minister Ariel Henri and I have witnessed the signing of this instrument. We have also discussed the next steps to enable the fast-tracking of the deployment,” read part of the statement.
Ruto noted that the new deal signed between the two leaders came after the court determined the need for a reciprocal instrument between Kenya and Haiti to enable this deployment.
Also Read: From Police Officer to Gangster: Story of Haiti Gang Leader Barbecue
Rise in Gang violence
Following the signing of the deal, the country’s main gang leader Jimmy Barbecue orchestrated attacks that led to the escape of over 3,000 dangerous criminals from Haiti’s two largest prisons and killed around a dozen people.
Francisco Uribe, one of the few detainees who chose not to leave prison, claimed in a video posted to social media that “They are killing people indiscriminately inside the cells”.
The prison attacks were followed by the storming of Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince, which was repelled by security, before a state of emergency was declared on March 3.
Barbecue stated that the goal was to capture Haiti’s police chief and government ministers and prevent Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s return to Haiti.
Eventually, the Prime Minister gave in to pressure and tendered his resignation as the head of the Caribbean’s nation government.
According to the chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICIOM) and Guyana President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, Henry resigned on Tuesday, March 12 leaving the position he has held since 2021.
