{"id":91198,"date":"2024-07-09T16:05:10","date_gmt":"2024-07-09T16:05:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2024\/07\/09\/why-foreign-officers-are-policing-haiti\/"},"modified":"2024-07-09T16:05:10","modified_gmt":"2024-07-09T16:05:10","slug":"why-foreign-officers-are-policing-haiti","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2024\/07\/09\/why-foreign-officers-are-policing-haiti\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Foreign Officers Are Policing Haiti"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"text-align:center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1050\" height=\"550\" src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2024\/07\/09\/multimedia\/09haiti-kenya-explainer-01-gpfh\/09haiti-kenya-explainer-01-gpfh-facebookJumbo.jpg?fit=1050,550&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Why Foreign Officers Are Policing Haiti\" title=\"Why Foreign Officers Are Policing Haiti\" \/><\/div><p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Foreign law enforcement officers started arriving in Haiti late last month, more than a year and a half after the prime minister there issued a plea to other countries for help to stop the rampant gang violence that has upended the Caribbean nation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">The 400 officers from Kenya are the first contingent of a deployment of officers from eight nations. Their job is to try to wrest control of Haiti\u2019s capital, Port-au-Prince, from dozens of armed groups that have attacked police stations, freed prisoners and killed with impunity.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">So far, the officers have gone out on a few patrols around Port-au-Prince and the authorities have not reported any clashes with any armed groups.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Some security experts say the Kenyan officers face a significant challenge supporting <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/05\/03\/world\/americas\/haiti-police-gangs-port-au-prince.html\" title=\"\">Haiti\u2019s police<\/a> and facing off with well-armed and highly organized <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/03\/07\/world\/americas\/haiti-gangs-explainer.html\" title=\"\">gangs<\/a> which have vowed to fight the foreign officers. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">And the Kenyan police have a checkered history back home, accused by human rights groups of killing and abusing civilians, raising concerns about their actions in Haiti.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Here\u2019s what to know about the multinational mission.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"css-13o6u42 eoo0vm40\" id=\"link-421e09a0\">Why foreign officers?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Since Haiti\u2019s appeal for international help went out in October 2022, more than 8,000 people have died in the violence there \u2014 over 3,000 people so far this year alone, the United Nations says.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">With a weakened national government and the presidency vacant, dozens of gangs have put up roadblocks, kidnapped and killed civilians, and attacked entire neighborhoods. About 200,000 people were forced from their homes from March to May, according to the U.N.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">The Kenyans in Haiti are the first to deploy of an expected 2,500-member force, an effort largely organized by the Biden administration.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">There is <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/05\/23\/world\/americas\/haiti-kenya-us-intervention-history.html\" title=\"\">long history<\/a> of international forces being sent to Haiti for the stated purpose of restoring law and order that have left behind grim legacies of civilian casualties, sexual exploitation and disease.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"css-13o6u42 eoo0vm40\" id=\"link-51062ac\">What will the officers do?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">The newly arrived officers are expected to tackle a long list of challenges, including retaking control of the country\u2019s main port and freeing major highways from criminal groups that demand money from drivers. Checkpoints along roads have become a major source of income for gangs, experts say.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Two weeks into the deployment, the Kenyan officers, who are based at the international airport in Port-au-Prince, have gone out on limited patrols, working jointly with the Haitian police. They have patrolled the downtown streets of the capital, and the areas near the National Palace, the Haitian police academy and the U.S. Embassy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Beyond protecting key infrastructure, the officers at some point will be expected to secure the presidential palace, which remains in shambles after a 2010 earthquake but continues to be a symbolic place of power in Haiti.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Officially called the Multinational Security Support Mission, the deployment is expected to last at least a year, according to the U.S. government.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Sanctioned by the United Nations and mostly financed by the United States, its goal is to support the Haitian police and establish enough stability so the transitional government can set up elections to choose a new president, as well as members of Parliament.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"css-13o6u42 eoo0vm40\" id=\"link-3c7c733c\">What other countries are involved?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Beside Kenya, the<strong class=\"css-8qgvsz ebyp5n10\"> <\/strong>Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Chad and Jamaica have officially offered personnel for the mission.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">But it has not received much financial commitment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">While Kenyan officials estimate the mission\u2019s cost will run up to $600 million, a U.N. fund to pay for it has only raised $21 million. The United States has pledged more than $300 million, but the U.S., Canada and France \u2014 Haiti\u2019s biggest benefactors and allies \u2014 were unwilling to send troops of their own.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Kenya was the first nation to publicly offer to do so. Many experts believed the mission would be more welcomed if was led by an African nation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Experts say that Kenya\u2019s president, William Ruto, who won a closely contested election in 2022, is using the deployment to broaden his <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2023\/11\/29\/world\/africa\/kenya-president-ruto.html\" title=\"\">profile on the global stage<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"css-13o6u42 eoo0vm40\" id=\"link-7c8c6860\">What is the U.S. role?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">The United States has provided many of the mission\u2019s supplies, rushing to find armored vehicles and other equipment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">The U.S. military flew more than 100 flights into Haiti to support the mission, carrying more than 2,696 tons of supplies. Civilian contractors have built sleeping quarters for the Kenyan officers at the Port-au-Prince airport.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Haitian government officials have cleared the airport perimeter of hundreds of houses, which made it easier for gangs to hide and fire at aircraft, forcing the airfield to close. The airport is now reopened to commercial flights.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">U.S. officials say they are hopeful that a new prime minister and police chief will be able to stem the violence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Garry Conille, a former U.N. official who was <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/05\/28\/world\/americas\/haiti-conille-prime-minister.html\" title=\"\">appointed prime minister<\/a> by a presidential transitional council, met recently with Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken to discuss the challenges facing his homeland.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-798hid etfikam0\">Andre Paultre<!-- --> contributed reporting from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and <!-- -->David C. Adams<!-- --> from Miami.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/07\/09\/world\/americas\/haiti-kenya-police-officers.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Foreign law enforcement officers started arriving in Haiti late last month, more than a year and a half after the prime minister there issued a plea to other countries for help to stop the rampant gang violence that has upended the Caribbean nation. The 400 officers from Kenya are the first contingent of a deployment [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":91199,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2024\/07\/09\/multimedia\/09haiti-kenya-explainer-01-gpfh\/09haiti-kenya-explainer-01-gpfh-facebookJumbo.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[33,1418,8364,35947],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91198"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=91198"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91198\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":91200,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91198\/revisions\/91200"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/91199"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=91198"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=91198"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=91198"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}