A threat issued by two dreaded gang members two weeks ago in Haiti, where Kenya is leading a Multinational Security Support Mission, has seen an upsurge in attacks.
Just a day after the two—identified as Jimmy Cherizier alias Barbecue and Jeff Gwo Lwa spoke on behalf of Viv Ansanm, a coalition of gangs who operate under the mission “Living Together”—asked people to stay indoors, deadly gun attacks started taking place.
The two vowed that gang members would pour into the streets in large numbers and just 48 hours after the threat at least three US aircraft had been shot at leading to the closure of Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Haiti. The closure of the airport also left United Nations planes grounded.
The threats were clear— “We ask the people to stay indoors, the time of observing the peacekeeping mission is over,” said Barbecue in a video.
What followed was an announcement by Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) two days ago that they were receiving threats from officers attached to the Haiti National Police (HNP) leading to the suspension of their services in the Caribbean nation.
The suspension was made after an ambulance belonging to the organisation was attacked leading to the untimely death of two patients.
“These repeated incidents have compelled MSF to stop patient admissions and transfer to its five medical facilities in Haiti’s capital as they clearly illustrate the direct targeting of our personnel and patients in Haiti,” the organisation said in a statement.
The organisation made it clear that they do not have a problem working in conditions of insecurity but their main concern was that the HNP officers had become a direct threat to their operations.
According to Christophe Garnier, the organisation’s boss in Haiti, they will not allow their members to work where they might be attacked.
“However, we can no longer continue operating in an environment where our staff is at risk of being attacked, raped, or even killed!”
Issuing a list of other attacks that have been directed to them, Mr Garnier said on November 12, two ambulances were stopped by HNP officers who threatened to kill the organisation’s staff.
Another attack took place on November 16, in an area known as Delmas 33, where one of their drivers was verbally assaulted by plainclothes police officers who warned the organisation of attacks that would be targeting its ambulances.
On November 17, shortly before midnight, the organisation also says, another ambulance was stopped near Toussaint Louverture by a SWAT Team who threatened to kill a patient on the spot.
However, the ambulance driver begged the officers to drive the patient, whose condition was worsening, to the hospital.
On November 18, in an area known as Carrefour Rita, an HNP police vehicle driven by an officer in plainclothes threatened the organisation’s staff, saying they would start burning ambulances, staff and patients.
This week, Dr Deborah Pierre, a urologist was shot and killed as she was getting into her car in Port-au-Prince, the capital city of Haiti. During the attack, her father, a dentist, was wounded.
Haitian journalists mourned Dr Pierre saying he had a week before her death said she did not plan to leave her home country.
The sudden worsening of the security situation came at a time when a new Prime Minister identified as Alix Didier Fils Aime was controversially sworn into office taking over from Dr Garry Conille.
Speaking while being sworn in the businessman who now doubles as a political leader promised to ensure that Haiti is secure and people can go on with their normal lives.
However, the ousted Interim Prime Minister is opposed to the move saying that no one apart from the sitting President of Haiti has the power to sack him.
It is worth noting that Haiti has not held any elections since 2016 and has been without a serving President since Jovenel Moise was assassinated in 2021.
With all these taking place, a total of 400 Kenyan police officers are in the country as part of the MSS peacekeeping mission whose commander is Godfrey Otunge.
In his last interview with the Nation, Mr Otunge said that their only mission was to ensure that they restore peace in the gang-infested country. He also issued a warning to the gang that attacked planes leading to the closure of the airport.
This week, the Kenyan officers alongside those attached to HNP were captured in videos which are in our possession escorting fuel tankers across Haiti. This is after the fuel shortage hit the vast country and gangs were out to stop the tankers from making delivery.
Kenya is planning to send an additional 600 police officers to the Caribbean nation following an announcement that was in October made by President William Ruto .
The 600 officers who recently completed their training are drawn from the General Service Unit (GSU), Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU), Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU), and all the Female Special Weapon and Tactics Team (SWATT).
Speaking at the time President Ruto also asked countries that had promised to assist the mission in any way to honour their promises.
Already, a plan to turn the mission into a fully-fledged UN Mission seems to be facing hurdles as China and Russia are opposed to the suggestion, and could most likely veto such a proposal in the United Nations Security Council.
