Kenyan police officers leading the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti are protesting what they term as 'abandonment' in the most volatile areas of the troubled Caribbean nation.
The officers who spoke to Agencia EFE, which is one of the largest news agencies globally, said that they are being marginalised by their counterparts from other contributing nations. These counterparts have left the Kenyan officers to confront the formidable gangs while they engage in comparatively less demanding responsibilities.
An officer who spoke to the local media stated that despite the call for a unified pursuit against the gangs, they have been left to pursue the gangs' volatile areas on their own, as other troops do lighter duties such as securing buildings and medical evacuations.
''We are the only ones dealing with the bandits, while police officers from other countries are responsible for securing buildings or evacuating the wounded,'' a Kenyan police officer told Agencia EFE.
Additionally, the officers admitted that they are forced to operate under intense pressure while facing well-armed criminals with better weapons than they have.
Further, the officers have complained about faulty armoured vehicles, lack of air support, and poor logistical planning.
They revealed that some of their counterparts have devised means to appease their bosses to avoid patrols, and that such means are often provided, depending on who you know.
''Some call themselves ‘specialists’ in avoiding patrols,'' said another officer on condition of anonymity. ''It all depends on who you know.''
This comes at a time when there have been instances of injuries and even fatalities due to the gang violence that is being witnessed in the nation.
On March 5, another Kenyan officer was shot dead by gang members during an operation in the Lower Artibonite region, which is located 92 kilometres north of Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince.
However, neither the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) nor the National Police Service (NPS) confirmed the officer's death, even though local media in Haiti reported that his body was seized by the gangs.
During the tragedy, three armoured vehicles belonging to the peacekeepers were also set on fire by armed gangs, creating a situation of panic among the officers.
With nearly 90 per cent of the capital controlled by gangs, more than 56,000 people were killed in 2024, and over one million were displaced, according to local media.
Tasked with patrolling areas under gang control, they operate under intense pressure, facing well-armed criminals and harsh conditions.
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