Final group of Kenyan officers leaves Haiti as security mission ends in failure

PORT-AU-PRINCE — The final contingent of Kenyan police deployed under the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission left Haiti on April 27, ending a mission that struggled to curb gang violence, as armed groups continue their control over much of the country.

Monday withdrawal completes the exit of Kenyan personnel who had been supporting the Haitian National Police (PNH) in operations against armed groups. It also signals an official transition to a new multinational initiative, the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), approved by the United Nations Security Council last fall.

In a statement posted on X, officials associated with the new force praised the Kenyan contingent’s service under difficult conditions.

“When Haiti needed support most, Kenya answered the call,” the GSF statement reads. “This commitment to peace and service beyond borders leaves a lasting legacy.”

A mission hindered from the start, with limited impact as violence escalated

From the outset, the MSS mission faced delays, funding gaps and operational challenges that limited its impact.

Approved by the U.N. Security Council in October 2023, the deployment was initially blocked by legal challenges in Nairobi before Kenyan courts cleared the way. Even then, the mission never reached its planned strength.

Even after approval and pledges of support from member nations, the mission struggled to meet its targets. Kenya pledged about 1,000 officers, but fewer than 800 were deployed. The broader multinational force was expected to reach 2,500 personnel, but never came close to that number.

Funding also fell short. Of an estimated $600 million annual budget, roughly $400 million was secured, largely from the United States, leaving gaps that limited operations, equipment and logistics.

Analysts and Haitian observers have said the mission lacked a clear operational framework, including sufficient intelligence capacity, coordination mechanisms and long-term political backing — all critical in confronting heavily armed and entrenched gangs.

Despite joint operations with Haitian police, the mission struggled to significantly weaken gang networks.

Armed groups continued expanding their control across Port-au-Prince and beyond, with the UN estimating that more than 90% of the capital is under gang influence. The armed groups have also expanded their grip on some of Haiti’s provincial towns, from the Artibonite region to the Central Plateau and the Southeast departments, long considered safer. The Organization for Migration (IOM) says displacement has surged to about 1.45 million people during the mission’s deployment.

Civil society groups have criticized the mission’s limited results, noting that key gang leaders were neither captured nor neutralized.

The mission also faced controversy. The United Nations documented several allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse involving personnel. While some cases were substantiated and victims received assistance, Kenyan authorities denied wrongdoing and dismissed the claims.

Haitian authorities acknowledge support as deployment of new force begins amid uncertainty

Despite the challenges, Haitian officials expressed gratitude for the Kenyan presence.

At a ceremony marking the departure, PNH leaders praised the contingent’s cooperation and commitment, noting that personnel operated with limited resources and in unfamiliar terrain.

The Kenyan officers had worked alongside forces from countries including the Bahamas, Jamaica and El Salvador in an effort to stabilize the country ahead of long-delayed elections.

With the final contingent of MSS departing, Haitian authorities are now turning to the GSF, which they hope will succeed where the Kenya-led mission fell short.

About 400 personnel from Chad have already arrived, with additional contributions expected from countries including Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The force is projected to reach 5,500 members and become fully operational by October 2026.

It will receive logistical and operational support through a UN-backed mechanism—the newly created United Nations Support Office in Haiti (UNSOH). The force will also be funded by member states.

Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé has called for rapid deployment, emphasizing that security is essential to restoring democratic order.

“Haiti does not need promises, but action,” he told the U.N. Security Council on April 23.

Yet, the end of the Kenya-led mission comes as violence continues to displace communities and disrupt daily life.

Clashes among rival gangs persist in the Cul-de-Sac plain and other regions, while state authority remains limited.

For many Haitians, the departure of the MSS underscores a broader concern: that international efforts have yet to match the scale of the crisis.

Whether the new force can change that trajectory remains uncertain.

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