Approximately 150 military police from Central America have arrived in Haiti to aid the struggling government in its efforts to combat violent gangs that have created chaos for millions in the nation.
The deployment, which includes around 75 officers primarily from Guatemala, was welcomed on Saturday at Toussaint Louverture International Airport by Godfrey Otunge, the Kenyan commander of the U.N.-backed mission that has been working to restore stability for several months.
“The gangs now have two options: they can either surrender and face justice, or they can confront us in battle,” Otunge declared during the welcoming ceremony. “With the arrival of the forces from Guatemala and El Salvador, we will eliminate their hiding spots and drive them out of their territories.”
A similarly sized group from El Salvador traveled on a U.S. Air Force plane and was received by prominent Haitian officials and U.S. Ambassador Dennis Hankins on Friday.
Gang violence in Haiti has escalated, particularly following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, with coordinated attacks targeting prisons, police facilities, and the main international airport. It is estimated that gangs now control about 85% of the capital, further destabilizing the region.
One of the most shocking incidents occurred on Christmas Eve, when gunmen opened fire on a crowd assembled for the highly anticipated reopening of the country’s largest public hospital, which had been closed due to previous gang violence earlier in the year. Tragically, two journalists covering the event and a police officer lost their lives.
Before this latest deployment, the mission to curtail the violence was spearheaded by approximately 400 security personnel from Kenya. Countries such as The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, and Chad have also committed to sending military resources, though it’s uncertain when they will arrive.