At least twenty Haitian gang members were on Sunday and Monday shot dead during a security operation carried out by the Haitian police jointly with Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM) officers.
The operation was carried out in Torcel, a town located 14 kilometres from Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital. Torcel is known to be the stronghold of “Kraze baryè,” one of the most stubborn gangs in Haiti.
The operation was aimed at tracking down armed gangs throughout the national territory and dismantling the Kraze baryè gang. It was during the operation that the officers shot dead at least twenty gang members.
During the showdown, the peacekeepers also brutally injured the second leader of the Kraze baryè gang, Deshomme. Several items including firearms, ammunition, mobile phones, sensitive materials and equipment were seized during the operation.
“Our brave police officers have carried out penetrations into strategic areas used by criminals for some time to commit their crimes. As part of the fight to track down armed gangs throughout the national territory, the Haitian National Police continues its operations and interventions in several areas of the country,” read part of the statement by the Haitian National Police(HNP).
However, despite defeating the gangs, an armoured vehicle ferrying the Kenyan officers experienced engine failure and could not be restarted despite the intervention of technicians who were on site.
“The PNH remains mobilized in the continuation of these said operations in order to neutralize the leader of the Gang and terrorist, Vitelhomme Innocent and his acolytes,” the statement by the Haitian police read.
The developments come against the backdrop of Haiti Prime Minister Garry Conille's visit to Kenya. During his visit to the country, Conille commended the Kenyan police for their immense efforts in restoring serenity in the Caribbean nation.
While addressing the press alongside President William Ruto at State House in Nairobi, the two leaders rallied the international community to do more to help restore peace in Haiti.
“Kenya and Haiti, therefore, stand united in calling on the international community to urgently rally behind this Mission. The adoption by the United Nations Security Council to extend the term of the MSS by another year signals strong global support,” Ruto stated.
"Words and pledges must be matched by concrete action. We therefore strongly implore our global partners to accelerate their contribution to the personnel, logistics and financial resources necessary to sustain and expand the Mission," he added.
Conille's visit to Kenya also followed a recent gang violence that saw up to seventy Haitians killed after gang members resorted to shooting locals in Central Haiti.
