Security forces from Guatemala and El Salvador arrived in Haiti on Friday, January 3, 2025, to reinforce a multinational mission aimed at tackling the country’s escalating gang violence, the Haitian National Police announced. A contingent of 75 Guatemalan officers and eight Salvadoran officers were welcomed at the international airport in the capital, Port-au-Prince, by a group of high-ranking officials. The dignitaries present included Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council leader, Leslie Voltaire, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, and the United States Ambassador to Haiti, Dennis Hankins. A video released by the police captured the event, which marked a significant step in international efforts to address the ongoing crisis in Haiti.
In addition to the first group of officers, a second contingent of 77 Guatemalan military police arrived on Saturday, January 4, bringing the total number of Guatemalan personnel in Haiti to 150. These officers will join the existing foreign police force under the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, a US– and United Nations-backed initiative. The mission works closely with the Haitian National Police to restore security and curb the gang violence that has ravaged the country.
Haiti has been severely impacted by the surge in gang violence, with the government struggling to contain the crisis. The UN Security Council approved the MSS mission in 2023 after repeated calls from Haiti’s government for international assistance. The mission received significant support from the United States, which pledged hundreds of millions of dollars in funding and resources to help stabilize the nation.
Despite the deployment of foreign forces, the mission has faced several challenges. Hundreds of Kenyan police officers were initially slated to oversee the MSS mission, but their deployment was delayed multiple times before they finally arrived in June 2024. In addition, the Kenyan officers did not receive pay for several months, further complicating the mission’s effectiveness.
Violence has continued to plague Haiti despite the presence of international forces. In November 2024, the US civil aviation regulator grounded all flights to Haiti for weeks after three jets from US-based airlines were struck by bullets while flying over Port-au-Prince. In a separate incident in October, gangs targeted US Embassy vehicles with gunfire, resulting in the evacuation of 20 embassy staff members.
The arrival of additional security forces from Guatemala and El Salvador marks a continued effort by the international community to bring stability to Haiti, but challenges remain as gangs continue to hold significant control over large parts of the country.
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