In Nairobi, Kenya, troubling news emerged on Wednesday about a Kenyan police officer who has gone missing in Haiti following an attack by violent gangs. This incident took place during a mission where officers were attempting to rescue stranded Haitian police who had been trapped in a ditch believed to have been deliberately created by criminal groups. The situation has prompted a swift response, with specialized teams dispatched to locate the missing officer.
Local Haitian media have reported grim developments, suggesting that the officer may have been killed. Disturbing footage has surfaced online showing a deceased individual dressed in what appears to be a Kenyan police uniform, further deepening the concerns.
Haiti has been grappling with severe gang violence, which the United Nations notes has resulted in more than one million people losing their homes. Many individuals are forced to live in dire conditions, taking refuge in makeshift shelters after their homes were destroyed by heavily armed criminals.
This Kenyan-led multinational security mission was introduced last year with the purpose of curbing the territorial ambitions of gangs seeking to dominate Haiti’s capital. Kenya had committed to deploying 1,000 officers to assist in stabilizing the area, with 800 already stationed there since June.
The dangers faced by these officers were highlighted recently when a Kenyan officer, who had been fatally injured by gangs, was laid to rest in Kenya after being killed in February. Political opposition figures in Kenya have urged for the deployed officers to receive enhanced equipment to ensure their safety.
The mission faces significant challenges, not only with a shortage of personnel as gangs reportedly control 85% of Port-au-Prince but also with financial constraints. The situation was exacerbated when the U.S., a principal source of funding, suspended part of its financial aid following policy directives from President Donald Trump, affecting the mission’s resources and potential impact.