Following a bloody shootout with gang members who had controlled the vital seaport since March 6, 2024, a team of Kenyan and Haitian police officers successfully retook the vital Port-au-Prince port on Wednesday.
The Auorite Portuaire Nationale (APN) port is a vital entry point for United Nations aid deliveries to the gang-ridden Caribbean nation. The officers, drawn from the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to Haiti, effectively liberated the port.
Due to the gangs’ occupation of the port, food and medical supplies could not be delivered, which made the humanitarian situation in Haiti worse.
After sending the initial 200 policemen to Port-au-Prince in late June, this was the first time Kenyan police had engaged the gang members in combat.
“The gangs that had begun firing at them were repelled by the Kenyan contingent and the Haitian police officers. The port, which was governed by the gangs, was later taken over by the officers “The Nation quotes MSS Mission Commander Godfrey Otunge as saying.
“Both Kenyan and Haitian agents took up positions at several points in the city as the shooting continued and managed to gain access to the port, which has been a no-go zone since March.”
Prior to the security operation, 14 communities controlled by gangs were placed under state of emergency, as announced by Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille.
Conille then firmly declared that he would not engage in negotiations with the criminal gangs. “I authorise the Haitian National Police, with the support of the Haitian Armed Forces and the MS, to gradually deploy and launch operations in the affected areas,” Conille said.
It’s still unknown if any Kenyan officers lost their lives or suffered injuries during the operation.
This came about just one day after 200 additional Kenyan police officers departed for Haiti in an attempt to stem the tide of gang violence that was rife in the Caribbean country.
Kenya is in charge of a force that should total about 2,500 soldiers.
