Haiti, once the wealthiest colony in the Americas, now finds itself entrenched in poverty and crisis.
A UN-authorized, Kenya-led multinational force, comprising police officers from several countries, including the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Chad, and Jamaica, is now on the ground.
The first contingent from Kenya arrived in Port-au-Prince on Tuesday, marking the fourth major foreign intervention in Haiti.
Working with Haitian police, and headquartered at a US-built base, the Kenyan officers will aim to take back key sites that have fallen under the control of gangs, including the nearby airport and seaports.
Haiti has not had an election since 2016. So elections are to be organized within a year, and to allow that to happen, the Kenyan-led mission is being tasked with restoring security. Their deployment has been authorized for one year, with a review to be held after nine months.
The Caribbean nation, sharing the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic, is grappling with severe political instability, gang violence, and the aftermath of numerous natural disasters.
Over half of Haiti’s population lives below the World Bank’s poverty line, underscoring the depth of its challenges.
Gang violence on average killed or injured more than one person per hour in the first three months of this year, according to UN data.
Close to 600,000 Haitians have been forced from their homes, according to the UN’s migration agency.
Schools and police stations have in some places been turned into shelters by families fleeing the violence.
Haiti’s police force has just 9,000 officers. By contrast, it is estimated that as many as 8,000 Haitians belong to 200 or so armed gangs – with roles ranging from commanders to informants. Recruitment has increased in recent years.
The gangs now have as much firepower as the police, says Emmanuel Paul, a security adviser who works with humanitarian groups in Haiti. “Virtually the same types of weapons are used on both sides – classic assault rifles, AK-47 Kalashnikovs of various makes,” said Paul.
Columbia’s President Gustavo Petro has even accused the military in his country of selling missiles and ammunition to armed men, who could have smuggled them into Haiti.
Political instability has long plagued Haiti. Since gaining independence from French colonial rule over two centuries ago, the country has faced multiple foreign interventions and chronic governance issues.
The assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021 further exacerbated the political chaos. The transitional government led by Prime Minister Garry Conille is now seeking to stabilize the situation, but progress is slow.
Gang violence is a pressing issue. Gangs control 80% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and their influence extends across the country.
The violence has displaced over 580,000 people and claimed thousands of lives. In response, the international community has stepped in.
The Biden administration has ruled out sending U.S. troops but has pledged financial support for the UN mission.
The mission aims to restore public order and security, though it faces skepticism due to past failures of international interventions, such as the 2004-2017 UN peacekeeping mission marred by allegations of sexual assault and the introduction of cholera.
President Joe Biden personally directed the military to carry out a mission in March, when U.S. Marines flew in to reinforce embassy security in Haiti and evacuate non-essential personnel as heavily-armed gangs challenged the country’s tenuous government and turned the country’s capital, Port-au-Prince, into a battlefield.
The middle-of-the-night operation was conducted via helicopter by the U.S. military at the request of the State Department for embassy security, the U.S. Southern Command said in a March 10, 2024 statement.
“This airlift of personnel into and out of the embassy is consistent with our standard practice for embassy security augmentation worldwide, and no Haitians were on board the military aircraft,” the statement said.
Economic woes compound Haiti’s problems. The country’s GDP per capita is among the lowest in the Western Hemisphere. Natural disasters, such as the devastating 2010 earthquake, have had long-lasting impacts. The U.N. reports that 1.6 million Haitians are on the brink of starvation, the highest number since 2010.
The international community’s response includes financial aid and development programs. However, critics argue that aid has often been mismanaged. Transparency and effective use of funds remain crucial for any long-term improvement.
As Haiti continues to navigate these crises, the path to stability and development appears fraught with challenges. The new government’s efforts, combined with international support, offer a glimmer of hope, but much work remains to be done to address the deep-seated issues facing the nation.