(Port-au-Prince) Kenyan police officers in armored vehicles patrolled the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, on Wednesday, a day after the arrival of a contingent to take part in an international mission aimed at restoring security in the country, where several municipalities have been placed in a state of security emergency.
“The authorities declared a state of security emergency on Wednesday in 14 municipalities under the control of gangs. The state of emergency will allow the government to have the tools and instruments necessary to act, confront the bandits and re-establish the authority of the State,” Prime Minister Garry Conille said in a speech announcing measures against these armed groups.
“I authorize the national police, the Haitian army and the Kenyan force to launch operations in the affected areas, based on the plans that we have established. The final objective is to retake all the areas that are controlled by the gangs, house by house, neighborhood by neighborhood and city by city,” he added Wednesday evening, calling on the population to be vigilant.
Shortly before the Prime Minister’s intervention, a government source had specified to AFP that the municipalities affected by the state of emergency would be located in the West and in the Artibonite department.
Kenyan and Haitian police patrolled the area around the National Palace and other areas of the capital on Wednesday, a local police official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Several explosions were heard, according to an AFP journalist, although it was unclear whether they came from the police or the gangs, who control 80% of the capital.
PHOTO RALPH TEDY EROL, REUTERS
A Kenyan police officer on patrol in Port-au-Prince.
The contingent arriving Tuesday brings to 400 the number of Kenyan police officers deployed – 200 at the end of June and 200 on Tuesday – to participate in this mission. Some 600 more are expected to arrive in the coming weeks.
The UN-backed Multinational Security Support Mission (MMAS) in Haiti is initially scheduled to last one year.
Several countries are also expected to contribute, such as Bangladesh, Benin, Chad, the Bahamas and Barbados. It will have a total of 2,500 people.
The United States has ruled out sending troops to Haiti, but is helping to deploy the mission with funding and logistical support.
Haiti has long suffered from violence by armed groups. That violence flared up again earlier this year, prompting the resignation of disputatious Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
Transitional authorities were put in place, with the heavy task of restoring security and organizing elections.