Guatemalan and Salvadoran Forces Arrive in Haiti to Combat Gang Violence

Guatemalan and Salvadoran Forces Join Fight Against Violent Gangs in Haiti

On Friday, security forces from Guatemala and El Salvador arrived in Haiti to support a multinational mission aimed at tackling the country’s escalating gang violence, the Haitian National Police confirmed.

A formal greeting ceremony took place at the international airport in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, where high-ranking officials welcomed the 75 Guatemalan officers and eight Salvadoran officers. The welcoming delegation included Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council leader Leslie Voltaire, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, and the United States Ambassador to Haiti, Dennis Hankins.

The newly arrived troops are set to join the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, a U.S. and UN-backed initiative designed to work alongside Haitian police in efforts to restore security in the nation. The MSS mission was created in response to Haiti’s increasing gang violence, which has intensified since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. In addition to the gang violence, Haiti has been further weakened by natural disasters and a deepening hunger crisis.

Normil Rameau, Acting Director General of the Haitian National Police, emphasized that the success of the mission relies on cooperation between the police and the Haitian people. He stated that this collaboration remains the most effective means of restoring lasting peace and security.

The UN Security Council approved the MSS mission in 2023, following repeated calls for international aid from Haiti’s government. The United States pledged significant support, offering hundreds of millions of dollars in funding and resources.

Despite the mission’s formation, the deployment has faced significant hurdles. Although the MSS is led by hundreds of Kenyan police officers, their arrival was delayed multiple times, and they went months without pay. Despite their efforts, gang violence has persisted across Haiti, with notable incidents continuing into 2023.

In November, the U.S. civil aviation authority grounded flights to Haiti for weeks after bullets struck three U.S.-based airline jets flying over Port-au-Prince. A month earlier, gangs fired on U.S. Embassy vehicles, forcing the evacuation of 20 embassy staff members.

At Friday’s ceremony, Godfrey Otunge, Commander of the Kenyan forces within the MSS, welcomed the Guatemalan and Salvadoran officers, praising their commitment to the Haitian government. “We don’t take it for granted. We have a prime minister who is also our friend,” Otunge said, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in Haiti’s fight against gang violence.

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