Another 200 Kenyan police officers have been deployed to Haiti as part of a UN-backed mission to address gang violence, senior officials announced Tuesday. This follows the June deployment of 400 officers, with Kenya planning to send a total of 1,000 officers despite ongoing legal challenges.
President William Ruto, amid domestic protests, has committed to the mission, which will include around 2,500 personnel from African and Caribbean countries. While the UN supports the mission, it does not manage it.
The Kenyan police confirmed the safe arrival of the officers, who will be working in cooperation with the Haitian police. Legal hurdles initially delayed the deployment, but a bilateral agreement with Haiti was secured in March.
The US funds and supports the mission but will not send troops. However, concerns have been raised by Human Rights Watch and other organizations due to the Kenyan police force’s history of excessive force. Haiti’s gang violence has severely impacted food security and aid access.