Kenya Police officers serving under the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in Haiti have intensified operations against local gangs, days after reports emerged that the United States was considering changes that could shift leadership of the mission to another country.
On Monday, August 25, specialised units of the Kenyan-led MSS and the Haitian National Police (PNH) launched a targeted overnight operation that successfully recaptured the Télcos Station from gangs led by the notorious figure “Izo2.”
The station is one of the key facilities that had been stormed and taken over by gangs. According to a statement from the joint mission, the operation involved an intense three-hour exchange between 1am and 4am.
During the raid, the gangs suffered heavy losses as security forces carried out a targeted and coordinated sweep of the area.
"The gangs suffered heavy losses as the security forces conducted a methodical sweep, moving door to door to neutralise armed resistance. Several individuals attempting to flee or hide were apprehended, while a cache of weapons and other materials was seized and is now in PNH custody," a statement from the MSS read in part.
Following the raid, a cache of weapons and other materials was recovered and handed over to the PNH, which is now handling further investigations.
In addition to reclaiming the Télcos base, MSS and PNH teams also cleared roadblocks erected by gangs along routes leading to Télcos and Kenscoff.
Officials close to the operation said the clearance restored safe passage for residents who had endured weeks of disrupted movement and insecurity.
PNH Director General Vladimir Paraison and MSS Force Commander Godfrey Otunge sent a stern warning to gang members, insisting the era of impunity was over and that the units under their command would continue intensifying targeted operations against the gangs.
Additionally, the two commanders confirmed that more targeted operations are planned in the coming days as part of an expanded strategy to dismantle gang networks across Port-au-Prince and its surrounding areas.
Nearly 1,000 Kenyan specialised officers are currently in the Caribbean nation and have been deployed for almost a year, even as gang violence continues to rock the country.
Meanwhile, the United States is also pushing to double the size of the foreign forces deployed, with the possibility of shifting overall command away from Kenya and as well as adding additional resources to the mission to ramp up the efforts.
