This force, led by Kenya, must try to stem gang violence. Washington will contribute money and equipment, but will not send troops or police.
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The American army announced that it had begun to deploy precursor elements in Haiti to the sending of a multinational security force under Kenyan leadership in this country plagued by gang violence and a serious humanitarian crisis. “US Southern Command coordinated multiple flights of US military aircraft transporting contracted civilian personnel, equipment and supplies to Toussaint-Louverture International Airport. of Port-au-Prince, according to a press release published Tuesday May 7.
“These personnel will work alongside Haitian airport officials to secure equipment and supplies that have arrived in Haiti”we added from the same source. “This mission is made possible through the continued coordination and support of Haitian stakeholders who are working to keep the airport open and continue operations”further underlined the American army.
Gangs have plunged the country into chaos
These vanguard elements must prepare the ground for the arrival of a multinational security force led by Kenya, which had put its deployment on hold pending the entry into office of a transitional council , which was done last week. A source within the outgoing Haitian government indicated to AFP last week that a first contingent of 200 Kenyan police officers should arrive on May 23 in Haiti.
Asked about the deployment of this force, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that no date has been made public for reasons of “operational security”, “but this is something we are striving to achieve as soon as possible”. The United States intends to contribute financially and in equipment to this force but without participating with troops or police officers.
Haiti has suffered for decades from chronic security and political instability. But since the end of February, the gangs, whose violence was already ravaging entire sections of the territory, have launched coordinated attacks against strategic sites in the capital, saying they want to overthrow Ariel Henry, then Prime Minister. He has officially left office and a transitional council now governs Haiti, with the task of trying to restore public order.
