Jamaica Troops Join Kenya Police Mission to Fight Haiti Gangs

The first wave of Caribbean military and police personnel has arrived in Haiti to support the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, led by Kenya. This critical security operation aims to dismantle powerful criminal gangs controlling large portions of the capital, Port-au-Prince. The recent arrivals include 23 members from Jamaica's defense and constabulary forces, alongside two soldiers from Belize’s military. These reinforcements come as the United States continues to vet over 200 Caribbean soldiers and police officers to strengthen the mission.
The involvement of Caribbean nations, particularly Jamaica, marks a significant development in this complex international mission. Colonel Kevron W. Henry of the Jamaica Defense Force has been appointed as the deputy commander of the MSS, solidifying Jamaica’s leadership role in the security effort. However, the mission continues to face multiple challenges, including strained resources, a lack of equipment, and funding issues.
Haiti has been plagued by gang violence, with approximately 80% of the capital under the control of heavily armed criminal groups. These gangs have not only crippled essential infrastructure but also caused a humanitarian crisis, displacing over 580,000 people and leaving around 5 million Haitians facing severe hunger.
Kenya initially led the MSS effort, deploying 1,000 police officers to Haiti. However, the deployment was delayed by court challenges in Nairobi and budgetary problems in Washington. Despite these setbacks, Kenyan forces were the first to arrive and have since taken control of key strategic locations, including the main port, hospital, and international airport.
The arrival of the Caribbean contingent is expected to strengthen operations, but much remains to be done. The mission has struggled to make a significant impact against the gangs due to a lack of security personnel, equipment, and financing. Kenyan Police Commander Godfrey Otunge, who leads the mission, has appealed for more resources, including helicopters and properly armored vehicles.
While Caribbean nations like Jamaica have swiftly deployed personnel, the West African nation of Benin-a crucial partner in the mission-has delayed its deployment plans. Benin pledged to send between 1,500 and 2,000 soldiers, making it the single-largest military contributor to the effort. Benin's participation is seen as key, given its French-speaking population, which shares cultural and linguistic ties with Haiti.
However, concerns have arisen over the command structure, with Benin insisting that its military personnel should not be led by police officers. Foreign Minister Shegun Adjadi Bakari emphasized that Haiti needs a military mission, not a police-led effort, to effectively combat the gangs. This dispute has put Benin's involvement on hold, further complicating the mission’s ability to scale up its security presence.
The United States has provided more than $300 million in financial support for the MSS, including the construction of a base near Port-au-Prince's international airport. Yet, funding for the 2,500 personnel expected to join the mission remains insufficient. As a result, the U.S. is pushing to transform the non-U.N. mission into a formal U.N. peacekeeping operation. This would provide a more stable funding structure through member state contributions and access to critical resources like helicopters and military hospitals.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who visited Haiti in early September, reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to the mission and discussed the possibility of transitioning it to a peacekeeping operation. However, this shift would require approval from the U.N. Security Council, raising concerns about potential vetoes from Russia and China when the resolution comes to a vote on September 30.