Kenyan police officers joined Haitian police in patrolling the capital, Port-au-Prince, on Wednesday (July 17). The authorities did not provide specific details about the officers’ assignments due to security reasons.
According to the Associated Press, the officers were seen near the main international airport, which had reopened in May after gang violence had forced it to close for nearly three months. Since Tuesday (July 16), 400 Kenyan officers have been on the ground in the violence-stricken capital, with a total of 1,000 officers expected to be deployed.
The Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti (MSS) aims to assist the Haitian National Police in restoring security and creating conditions for free and fair elections. The mission is supported but not managed by the UN, which reported that $18 million had been deposited in its trust fund by late April. The main contributors to the fund are Canada, France, and the United States, which provide financial and logistical support but will not send troops.