HAITI MISSION

Haiti Kenyan cops get new 24 armoured cars from USA

The carriers were dispatched only days after the Kenyan team complained of lack of resources.

In Summary
  • Kenya deployed 400 police officers to the UN-ratified security mission mandated to fight heavily armed gangs in Haiti.

  • The security support was first requested by Haiti's government in 2022.

Kenyan police stand next to the delivered equipment at a port in Haiti-Handout
Kenyan police stand next to the delivered equipment at a port in Haiti-Handout

The US Army on Friday delivered 24 armoured vehicles to Kenyan police in Haiti.

The Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) arrived at the main airport in Port-au-Prince via US Airforce C-17 cargo aircraft on August 23.

The desperately needed personnel carriers were dispatched only days after the Kenyan team complained of lack of resources and inordinate delays in support.

Kenya deployed 400 police officers to the UN-ratified security mission mandated to fight heavily armed gangs in Haiti.

The security support was first requested by Haiti's government in 2022.

A handful of countries pledged to raise a team of 2,500 police officers, but so far the only team in Haiti remains only the Kenyans.

The 24 new carriers add to the initial 10 which were also provided by the USA.

The Americans also delivered 34 Overhead Gunner Protection Kits, or "turrets," which military-funded contractors will install on the armoured vehicles to boost their field view during joint operations with the national police.

The Kenyan team withdrew from Ganthier, a town 30 minutes drive from Port-au-Prince, at the end of July after coming under intense gun fights with gang members.

Haitian media reported the first MRAPs did not have towers, making it difficult for the Kenyans to fight or respond to attacks.

Gang war in Ganthier had by August 1 displaced about 6,000 residents, UN data showed.

Close to 600,000 people have been internally displaced by gang violence and hundreds of thousands of would-be migrants deported back to Haiti, where nearly 5 million people are suffering from severe hunger.

The new vehicles have a turret (firing tower) to enable combat in patrol operations.

The French government delivered 24 APC with turrets to the Haiti National Police.

Kenya asked for more fighting equipment including choppers that will soon be delivered as the security operation advances.

Once more police officers from the contributing countries join the Kenyans, the second phase is expected to be more aggressive.

Jamaica and Bahamas are expected to deploy by early September after evaluating the situation.

The first batch of Kenyan officers in Haiti on June 25 and have so far helped pacify large swathes of Port-au-Prince.

The Kenyans have taken control of a port, a national hospital and a major road, linking the city to the Puerto Rican border, that had been under the control of gangs for years.

Leaders of the Kenyan team have held meetings with ambassadors and authorities in the hope of swift delivery of more equipment.

The police are in Haiti to back the Haitian National Police to re-establish law and order and create an atmosphere conducive for national elections.

Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille raised concerns over delays in funding for the Kenyan-led mission and warned that delayed support could undermine the entire operation.

"People are living under very bad circumstances. So, they want to see action. They want to see movement," he said.

"Unfortunately, the resources are not enough and not coming quickly enough. We understand that there are a lot of emergencies going on and heavy fatigue, but the good news is that there is hope."

He acknowledged the global challenges and the strain on international aid but stressed the importance of meeting the current needs in Haiti.

Conille also underscored the potential consequences of failing to meet the mission's funding requirements, stating that the expectations might be shattered. 

"The arrival of the Kenyans has created expectations, and we need to meet this expectation, or the whole system crumbles, including the credibility of the transitional government," he said.

The international partners supporting Haiti security sector on August 8 held a joint forum at Montana Hotel where Conille was the chief guest.

The mission in Haiti is funded by the United States of America government among other donors.

Conile passionately appealed to international partners to support Haiti especially the Haitian National Police (HNP) who despite their numbers, lacked resources and weapons.

He called for quick intervention as the country was preparing for the next general elections next year.

“There is, therefore, a need to guarantee security as it is the key to free and fair elections,” he said.

Kenyan police are in Haiti to help the local officials stabilize from gangs that had almost overrun the capital.

Apart from Kenya, other countries that have pledged to send officers to Haiti include Benin, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Belize, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Algeria, Canada and France.

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