The Haitian National Police (HNP) has dismissed claims suggesting that Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission officers stopped collaborating with Haitian officers to curb the surging gang violence in the Caribbean nation.
The mission, which includes troops from Kenya, El Salvador, the Bahamas, Belize, Jamaica, and Guatemala, is still active and helping Haitian officers combat the dreaded gangs.
In a joint presser signed by HNP and MSS mission spokespersons, Michel Jeune and Jack Ombaka, on Monday, April 21, the two accused a section of foreign media of spreading false information about the mission.
While refuting the allegations, the two spokespersons noted that the Kenya-led MSS mission is heavily involved in the theatre of operations on the ground alongside Haitian officers.
According to the police bosses, for instance, in the commune of Kenscoff, which is located 11 kilometres south of Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, the MSS peacekeepers and the HNP were working in perfect synergy to dismantle the gangs.
"Contrary to information published by certain foreign media outlets suggesting that the MSS is not supporting the HNP in operations to dismantle armed gangs, the police institution wishes to inform members of the general population and the press, in particular, that the MSS is heavily involved in the theater of operations on the ground alongside the PNH," read part of the joint statement.
The statement went on to add, "Indeed, in the commune of Kenscoff, as on all other fronts, the Haitian National Police and the Multinational Security Support Mission are working in perfect synergy as part of actions aimed at continuing the fight against gangs in the country."
The police chiefs further noted that the Haitian Police boss, Rameau Normil, and the MSS Commander, Godfrey Otunge, were developing solid relationships by constantly reviewing strategies to better address insecurity.
The latest development comes on the back of allegations that the Kenyan peacekeepers had stopped supporting their Haitian counterparts in curbing the gang rampage.
According to a section of media outlets, the fallout followed the killing of Benedict Kabiru, a Kenyan officer who was part of the MSS peacekeeping mission. Kabiru was reportedly shot dead on Monday, March 24, 2025, in Savien state while carrying out an anti-gang operation.
Reports further indicated that the Haitian towns of Mirebalais and Saut-d'Eau were currently in the hands of criminals, but the Kenyan officers were nowhere to be seen.
However, despite the allegations, the MSS Spokesperson, Jack Ombaka, recently told Haitian journalists that the mission officers are planning to deploy a new strategy to combat the dreaded Caribbean gangs.
In an interview with Haiti’s media outlet, Le Nouvelliste, on Wednesday, April 16, Ombaka said the new strategy would involve ambushes on specific gang leaders.
"We are in a phase of decisive operations. As a strategy, we talk less and act more. We have carried out several targeted operations over the past week,” Ombaka told the Caribbean newspaper.
“That is why you no longer see gang leaders coming out openly, as was the case before. We are determined to capture at least three gang leaders, dead or alive," he added.
