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President William Ruto of Kenya has announced that his country’s peacekeeping police force will be sent to Haiti to address the escalating gang violence.
In an exclusive interview with the BBC, Ruto revealed that a planning team is already in Haiti, having met with local police to finalize arrangements before the deployment of Kenyan troops.
Ruto’s announcement follows his three-day visit to Washington DC, marking the first official state visit by an African leader to the US in over 15 years.
The urgency to deploy the Kenyan-led multinational force was emphasized by the White House, which called for swift action after three missionaries, including a US couple, were killed in Haiti.
Ruto assured the BBC that preparations are underway, with an assessment of the ground situation, available capabilities, and established infrastructure.
The deployment is expected to take place within three weeks, pending agreement with the Haitian police and leadership.
Kenya had previously offered to lead a UN-backed multinational security force to restore order in Haiti, where gangs have taken control, resulting in violence and devastation, particularly in the capital city of Port-au-Prince, following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021.
Ruto stressed that such incidents highlight the importance of sending their police force to prevent further loss of life and to combat gang activity.
The US is also part of the multinational coalition working with Kenya, and President Joe Biden has pledged support for the expedited deployment of the force.
Kenyan gov’t has built a relationship with Haiti’s police force
Additionally, progress is being made on a joint base being constructed in partnership with the US, which is currently about 70% complete.
While the situation in Haiti remains dire, President William Ruto emphasized that his government has taken a cautious approach to address security concerns, including equipment plans, infrastructure, and building a relationship with Haiti’s police force.
The deployment of Kenya’s police force has also faced legal challenges from the opposition party, with a court hearing scheduled for June 2.
However, Ruto reassured the BBC that there is a written agreement with Haiti’s transitional presidential council, ensuring that Kenya’s presence will be interpreted as a “peacemaking” force rather than an occupying one.
President Ruto’s attention is not solely focused on Haiti, as he mentioned Kenya’s involvement in 15 different global missions, including neighboring Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
He revealed ongoing discussions with warring factions in Sudan, expressing concern over the unacceptable level of human suffering in the country.
William Ruto believes that international attention on Sudan has waned due to other global crises but stressed the need for equal attention to all these situations. This was a point he discussed with President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his recent visit to the US.
The designation of Kenya as a non-NATO ally by the White House further strengthens diplomatic ties and allows for closer security cooperation with the US, as well as access to more advanced US weaponry.
Despite this, Ruto emphasized that Kenya’s alliances are not about choosing between East or West but about moving forward to address global challenges.
Check also;
- Haitian Gang Leader Jimmy Barbecue’ Chérizier’ Calls For Inclusion In Peace Talks
- United States Commits $100M In Aid To Bolster Haiti’s Security Forces Amid Deepening Crisis
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