Kenya and Haiti have a security deal to try to salvage a plan for Nairobi to deploy 1,000 police officers to the troubled Caribbean nation to help combat gang violence that has surged to unprecedented levels.
In October, Kenya accepted the responsibility of leading a UN-approved global police force to Haiti. However, in January, the Kenyan high court deemed the plan unconstitutional, citing a missing mutual agreement between the two nations as one of the reasons.
Kenya’s president, William Ruto, said in a statement that he and the Haitian prime minister, Ariel Henry, witnessed the signing of the reciprocal agreements between the two countries on Friday.
The exact means of potentially bypassing the court’s decision was not immediately evident.
Ekuru Aukot, an opposition politician who filed a petition against the deployment, plans to bring a case for contempt of court.
The statement made was that William Ruto shows no concern for the principles of law or the constitution of the nation. It will be contested if this undisclosed agreement is legitimate.
At a speaking event at the Kenya campus of the United States International University, Henry stated that prompt elections are crucial for ensuring stability in his country.
According to him, conducting elections is necessary to bring stability to the country. He also believes that having democratic leadership is crucial for attracting investment in Haiti.
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Henry has made multiple promises to hold elections since assuming office as prime minister and interim president following the assassination of former president Jovenel Moïse in July 2021. However, he and other government officials claim that ongoing gang violence has hindered their ability to fulfill these commitments.
In the evening of Wednesday, Caribbean officials announced that Henry has made a commitment to conduct national elections by mid-2025.
When questioned about the safety of his return home from Kenya in light of the recent increase in gang violence in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, Henry appeared indifferent.
Unknown assailants opened fire at the primary airport in Haiti and various other locations, including law enforcement buildings, causing chaos and shock among the public. In a separate incident, a police union reported that four officers, including two female members, lost their lives in an assault on a station near the village of Canaan.
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In a recorded video, Jimmy Chérizier, also known as “Barbecue”, the leader of the G9 Family and Allies gang federation, stated that their goal was to capture the police chief and government ministers, as well as stop Henry from coming back to Haiti.
He declared that together with our weapons and the Haitian citizens, we will liberate the nation.
Gangs have become stronger and there has been a rise in political turmoil following the killing of Moïse. Previously, he had faced demonstrations demanding his removal due to allegations of corruption and accusations that his term had ended.
In 2023, there were over 8,400 individuals who were reported as killed, injured, or kidnapped in Haiti, which is more than twice the reported number in 2022. The groups responsible for the violence are still engaged in battles for control of certain areas, and it is believed that they have authority over roughly 80% of Port-au-Prince.
Source: theguardian.com
