Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Kenyans.co.ke
Published on 2024-03-12 16:48:07
Kenya has made a decision to put on hold the deployment of 1,000 police officers to Haiti in an effort to combat gang crimes. This decision was announced by Principle Secretary for Foreign Affairs Korir Sing’oei, citing the resignation of Haiti’s Prime Minister on March 11, 2024, as the reason for the halt. Sing’oei emphasized that without a stable political administration in Haiti, there is no foundation or support for the mission to be carried out effectively. Therefore, Kenya will wait for the installation of a recognized constitutional authority in Haiti before any further decisions regarding the deployment are made.
The initial agreement for the deployment of the police officers was witnessed by President William Ruto and former Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry. Despite the signing of the agreement, the deployment will not proceed at this time due to the necessity of collaboration with a sitting government. An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted the importance of having a functioning administration in place before deploying police officers to the streets of Port-au-Prince.
The resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry followed a crisis meeting held by the Caribbean Community regional bloc known as CARICOM. In this meeting, the creation of a presidential college was discussed, which would be responsible for selecting a new interim Prime Minister to lead in the interim period. The President of Guyana and chairman of CARICOM, Mohammed Irfaan Ali, acknowledged Henry’s resignation and the establishment of a transitional presidential council during the meeting.
Despite being in the pre-deployment stage and facing court orders barring the operation, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki confirmed that the mission was progressing. He mentioned that the court matter had been resolved, and all necessary programs were in place for the deployment.
Former US special envoy to Haiti, Daniel Foote, expressed reservations about the deployment of Kenyan troops to Haiti, labeling Kenya as a third-world country with insufficient capacity to handle the mission effectively. Foote’s caution came amid concerns about the security situation in the gang-affected nation.
In conclusion, Kenya’s decision to delay the deployment of police officers to Haiti reflects the importance of working with a stable and recognized government to address the ongoing challenges in the country. The need for collaboration and support from an established administration is crucial for the success of any international mission aimed at addressing security issues.
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