Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Kenyans.co.ke
Published on 2024-03-15 05:45:53
President William Ruto has announced that Kenya will be sending a reconnaissance mission to Haiti prior to the official deployment of police officers to the violence-stricken country. The purpose of this mission is to gather crucial information about the enemy, their routes, and the terrain of the battlefield. This information will be used to strategize and prepare the 1,000 police officers who will be deployed to Haiti.
The decision to send a reconnaissance mission was made to ensure that the Kenyan security personnel are well-prepared to handle the challenges posed by the various gangs in Haiti. President Ruto emphasized the importance of this mission in a statement released on Thursday, March 14. He also mentioned that the team will be deployed once an interim leadership is in place in Haiti, following the departure of Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
In a series of phone calls with key leaders, including Haiti’s outgoing Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau of Canada, and Philip Davis of The Bahamas, President Ruto reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to supporting Haiti. He assured them that Kenya will continue to be actively involved and will not abandon Haiti in its time of need. The deployment of the reconnaissance mission will commence once a viable administration is established in Haiti.
While the international community has been pressuring Kenya to urgently deploy its police force to Haiti due to the escalating violence, the decision has faced criticism domestically. Some opposition leaders have raised concerns about the risk to the lives of Kenyan officers in Haiti. Additionally, there are communication barriers to address, as most Haitians speak French while Kenyan police officers primarily speak Swahili and English.
Furthermore, Haitian gangs have warned against foreign intervention in their country’s internal affairs. Jimmy Cherizier, a prominent gang leader, stated that the solution to Haiti’s problems lies within the Haitian people and that other countries should not interfere. He emphasized the need for improving living conditions in Haiti as a priority.
The deployment of Kenyan police officers to Haiti remains pending, as the reconnaissance mission is set to gather vital information to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the deployment. President Ruto’s commitment to supporting Haiti and addressing the challenges faced by the country demonstrates Kenya’s solidarity with its Caribbean counterpart in times of crisis.
Overall, the deployment of a reconnaissance mission to Haiti signifies Kenya’s proactive approach to addressing the security concerns in the region and highlights the country’s commitment to supporting its international allies in times of need.
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