Kenya Reconsiders Police Deployment to Haiti Amid Ongoing Caribbean Unrest
Kenya has decided to halt plans to deploy over 1,000 police officers to Haiti following the unprecedented violence in the Caribbean nation and the announcement by Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry that he would resign once a presidential council is established. Last October, Kenya had agreed to lead a U.N.-authorized international police force to help quell gang violence in Haiti. However, Haiti’s top court ruled in January that this deployment was unconstitutional, citing a lack of reciprocal agreements between the two countries.
Kenyan President William Ruto stated that reciprocal agreements were signed on March 1, paving the way for the deployment. However, the situation in Haiti deteriorated significantly since late February, with escalated violence, including attacks on police stations, closure of international airports, and prison raids releasing over 4,000 inmates.
Due to the complete breakdown of law and order in Haiti, Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Koriri Sing’oei announced the halt in the planned deployment. Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s recent announcement of his resignation once a transitional presidential council is created suggests international pressure for new leadership in the crisis-stricken country.
With uncertainty about the political administration in Haiti, Kenya has decided to await the installation of a new authority before making further decisions on the deployment of police officers. The situation in Haiti remains dire, with widespread violence, displaced populations, and critical shortages of food and water, underscoring the complex challenges faced by the international community in addressing the crisis.
