Around 150 military police officers from Central America arrived in Haiti this week to aid the nation’s battle against escalating gang violence.
The reinforcements, primarily 75 officers from Guatemala, landed at Toussaint Louverture International Airport on Saturday. They were welcomed by Kenyan Commander Godfrey Otunge, who leads the U.N.-backed mission striving to restore stability.
“The gangs have two choices: surrender and face justice, or face us in the field,” Otunge declared at the ceremony. “With Guatemalan and Salvadoran forces joining, these criminal groups will have nowhere to hide.”
Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, has been ravaged by coordinated gang assaults, with approximately 85% of the city under their control. The violence surged after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, leaving millions in fear.
This deployment also included a smaller group of troops from El Salvador, transported via a U.S. Air Force aircraft. They arrived Friday and were greeted by Haitian officials and U.S. Ambassador Dennis Hankins.
Gang activity reached new heights last month when gunmen attacked a crowd during the reopening of Haiti’s largest public hospital on Christmas Eve. The assault claimed the lives of two journalists and a police officer.
The mission, initially led by 400 Kenyan officers, now incorporates forces from Guatemala and El Salvador. Other nations, including the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, and Chad, have pledged support, though timelines for their deployments remain uncertain.
As Haiti faces one of its darkest chapters, international reinforcements bring hope for a return to peace and normalcy. However, the challenge remains immense.
