Commander of Kenyan-Led Mission in Haiti Says Gang Clearance Operations are Being Conducted
PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti – The Commander of the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, Godfrey Otunge, says the efforts to “decisively deal’ with the criminal gangs in Haiti “has just begun”.
Godfrey OtungeIn his weekly statement released on Monday, Otunge said that the MSS and the Haitian National Police (PNH) are conducting clearance operations in Delmas, Bel-Air, Solino, and their environs “to weed out gangs and return normalcy in these zones.
”Our commitment to decisively deal with the gangs in Haiti has just begun,” he said, thanking the United States government for its continued support by “heeding our call for additional equipment”.
He said that the MSS has received additional vehicles and equipment in recent days “leading to more sustained joint operations between HNP and MSS personnel.
”I wish to reiterate that operations to counter and clear gang activities across entire Haiti is taking shape while noting that it will be a process and a journey that needs all of us to walk together.
“Our officers remain committed to their mandate and are professionally adhering to the International Human Rights Law as outlined under the Human Rights Due Diligence Policy. This is to ensure and guarantee that civilian security remains our number one priority,” Otunge added.
He said that the operations which will be conducted on sea, land and air will be “ leaving no room for the gangs to operate.
“It is therefore incumbent upon the gangs to put down their weapons and surrender to the government to face the rule of law,” he added.
Last week, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said that thousands of women and girls displaced by gang violence in Haiti are under threat from a surge in sexual assaults.
Haiti has been without an elected head of state since July 7, 2021, when Jovenel Moise was assassinated at his private residence overlooking Port au Prince.
The United Nations says gang wars have displaced more than 578,000 Haitians, while nearly 5 million – almost half the population of 11.7 million – are facing acute hunger, with 1.6 million of those people at risk of starvation.
Haiti has also benefitted from the deployment of police officers from Kenya under the United Nations sanctioned mission to combat powerful armed gangs that have wreaked turmoil in the Caribbean country.
The head of the Transitional President Council (TPC), in Haiti, Edgard Leblanc Fils, said that he expects presidential and legislative elections to be held by the end of 2025.
