The United States has announced directives to end the rising violence in Haiti, promising full support for a new United Nations anti-gang force of which Kenya is a part.
Speaking at the United Nations Security Council briefing on Haiti in New York on October 22, US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said that the government will use all possible measures to punish those behind Haiti's insecurity.
"The United States will remain relentless in pursuing those who undermine Haitian security and arm and finance these terrorist gangs."
"We will expand our use of all available tools, using all means necessary, including indictments, arrests, financial sanctions, arms seizures, visa and other immigration restrictions, to counter the impunity that robs Haitian children of their futures," Waltz said.
It also issued a new directive to strengthen the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), which will take over from the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti that was led by Kenya.
According to Waltz, the UN Support Office in Haiti will be taking part in helping with the coordination of the mission.
Waltz said that the U.S. will continue to work with the UN Panel of Experts to identify and punish those funding or supporting gang activities.
The ambassador said that asset freezes and travel bans will remain important tools to destabilise activities in Haiti.
“Now we will continue to support the Panel of Experts’ work on sanctions targets to support Haiti. UN asset freezes and travel bans remain an important tool to promote maximum accountability of those contributing to, or complicit in, destabilising activities in Haiti,” the Ambassador added.
The announcement followed a report of further deaths of two Kenyan police officers in Haiti last week.
On Monday, October 20, the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) assured the public that all its personnel remained safe and confirmed that no Kenyan officers had lost their lives during the latest operations.
The GSF explained that, in collaboration with the Haitian National Police (PNH) and the Haitian Armed Forces (FAD’H), they conducted a joint mission in Haiti’s Artibonite Department, with a focus on the Petite-Rivière–Liancourt–Pont Sondé route. The operation targeted the dismantling of gang networks and the reopening of vital transport corridors previously blocked by armed groups.
When officers encountered heavy resistance from the Gran-Griff gang during the mission, they responded firmly, ultimately overcoming the threat. This confrontation sparked rumours that two Kenyan officers had died in the conflict, but the GSF refuted these claims, confirming that all members were unharmed.
Waltz expressed gratitude to Kenya and other supporting nations for their involvement in the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission in Haiti, emphasizing that their efforts are crucial to the nation's recovery.
