A second group of 200 Kenyan police officers arrived in Haiti on Tuesday to join the UN-backed Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti.
The deployment’s primary goal is to strengthen the fight against widespread gang violence and help restore stability and peace in the Caribbean nation.
The officers, drawn from different countries, arrived in Haiti on a UN-chartered flight to complement the initial contingent of 400 Kenyan police officers who arrived on June 25.
The Kenyan police team will lead the multinational mission, with officers from other countries expected to join in the coming weeks to support the Haitian police in reinstating law and order, safeguarding vital infrastructure, and assisting in delivering humanitarian aid.
The country has been grappling with persistent gang violence and political instability for years. The nation witnessed a surge in violence in the aftermath of President Jovenel Moise’s assassination three years ago.
Earlier this year, rival armed factions seized control of the capital, Port-au-Prince, compelling Prime Minister Ariel Henry to step down with former United Nations expert Garry Conille sworn in May.