Approximately 150 military police officers from Central America have been deployed to Haiti to bolster the government’s ongoing battle against violent gangs that have destabilized the nation and disrupted the lives of millions. This reinforcement, which includes around 75 security officers from Guatemala, was welcomed on Saturday at Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince by Godfrey Otunge, the Kenyan commander of the U.N.-backed mission.
“The gangs have only two choices: surrender, lay down their weapons, and face justice, or face us in the field,” Otunge declared during a ceremony. “With the addition of Guatemalan and El Salvador forces, the gangs will have nowhere to hide. We will root them out of their enclave.”
The new deployment follows an earlier contingent of Central American officers, including personnel from El Salvador, who arrived aboard a U.S. Air Force aircraft on Friday. They were greeted by Haitian officials and U.S. Ambassador Dennis Hankins.
Haiti has been gripped by escalating gang violence since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, with gangs controlling an estimated 85% of the capital. Coordinated attacks on critical infrastructure, including prisons, police stations, and the international airport, have intensified, creating a dire security crisis.
One of the most shocking incidents occurred on Christmas Eve when gunmen opened fire on a crowd gathered for the reopening of Haiti’s largest public hospital. The attack left two journalists and a police officer dead, highlighting the brazen nature of gang activity.
Before the recent reinforcements, the U.N.-backed mission to stabilize Haiti consisted of approximately 400 security officers from Kenya. Several nations, including Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, and Chad, have also pledged additional personnel, although their deployment timelines remain unclear.
source: Swifteradio.com
