President William Ruto held a phone conversation with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday evening to discuss the progress and challenges of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission in Haiti, which Kenya is leading. The talks come amid an escalating crisis of gang violence in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince.
Kenya has deployed over 800 police officers to Haiti as part of the MSS mission aimed at restoring order and stability. During the conversation, Guterres commended Kenya’s leadership and unwavering commitment to the mission, according to President Ruto.
“He acknowledged Kenya’s leadership role and commended our steadfast commitment to our shared goal of restoring stability in Haiti,” Ruto posted on social media.
However, the mission has come at a heavy cost. Since June, two Kenyan police officers have been killed, and three others have sustained gunshot injuries following attacks by heavily armed gangs. Officers have also raised concerns over inadequate logistical support on the ground.
The security crisis in Haiti continues to spiral. On Wednesday, thousands of Haitians marched in Port-au-Prince in one of the largest protests since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. Demonstrators, some armed, demanded the resignation of the transitional government and the head of the national police.
The protest, led by a police officer and leader of a self-defense group, turned chaotic as protesters clashed with riot police who responded with tear gas and reportedly live bullets. Roads were barricaded, tires burned, and government offices targeted.
The situation worsened earlier this week when gangs attacked Mirebalais, a town northeast of the capital. Over 500 inmates were freed from prison, homes and churches were torched, and two Roman Catholic nuns were killed.
The U.N. reports that 90% of Port-au-Prince is now under gang control. Efforts to stabilize Haiti through a nine-member transitional council have faltered amid corruption allegations and persistent violence, dimming hopes for upcoming elections or a constitutional referendum.
With the humanitarian crisis deepening, Kenya’s role in Haiti faces both heightened urgency and growing peril.
