A fresh wave of violence has erupted in Haiti, leaving at least 20 dead in an attack by the notorious Gran Grif gang, pointing to the mounting challenges facing the Kenya-led peacekeeping mission in the troubled Caribbean nation.
The brutal assault on Pont-Sondé, a town in the Artibonite region, has sparked concerns over whether the Kenyan police, leading an international force, can maintain order amidst escalating gang violence.
This latest bloodshed occurred just days after the United Nations Security Council extended the Kenya-led mission for an additional year, brushing aside Haitian calls for transforming the operation into a UN peacekeeping force. The mission, launched in June, has struggled to stabilise areas that are under siege by powerful gangs like Gran Grif, whose reign of terror continues to spread.
Videos circulating from the scene of the attack show terrified civilians fleeing on motorbikes and on foot, desperate to escape the violence. According to local reports, more than 50 people were wounded during the rampage, with authorities describing the situation as “a massacre.” Exact figures of the dead remain unclear, with estimates fluctuating between 20 and over 50.
President William Ruto interacting with Kenya Police officers in Haiti, September 2024.
Photo
PSC
Gran Grif, known for its brutality, has a long history of violent activities. The gang, consisting of around 100 members, is accused of heinous crimes such as murder, rape, and kidnappings. It has even targeted police stations and health facilities, including an attack in January 2023 that left six officers dead. This recent massacre further highlights their dominance and the fragile security situation in Haiti.
Kenya’s police force, currently deployed under the UN-backed mission, is now grappling with the reality that restoring peace in Haiti is a far more complex task than anticipated. Armed gangs have tightened their grip on large swaths of the country, making it difficult for the 1,000 Kenyan officers, part of the 2,500-strong multinational force, to stem the violence.
Despite Prime Minister Garry Conille’s promises to crack down on gangs, it’s becoming increasingly evident that more than just a “robust use of force,” as described by the UN, is required. While the police’s anti-gang tactical unit was swiftly dispatched to Pont-Sondé following the attack, the Haitian government’s warning that these crimes will not go unpunished rings hollow in the face of continued bloodshed.
For Kenya, this mission is proving to be an uphill battle. The UN’s decision to extend the peacekeeping mandate for another year offers little assurance of long-term stability. Gran Grif and other gangs have shown resilience, with little regard for the international forces sent to rein them in.
As the situation in Haiti deteriorates, the question remains whether Kenya’s involvement will lead to meaningful change or if the mission will become another failed attempt to quell the rising tide of gang violence.
Kenya Police patrolling Port-au-Prince in Haiti
Photo
Miami Herald
