A Kenyan police officer has gone missing in Haiti following an ambush by suspected gangs during a rescue operation. The incident took place in Pont-Sondé while assisting the Haitian national police. Previous attacks on Kenyan officers have raised concerns about safety as gang violence persists in the country, contributing to significant casualties and displacement.
A Kenyan police officer, part of the international security force deployed in Haiti, has reportedly gone missing following an ambush by suspected gang members. The incident occurred when the officer’s unit was assisting a vehicle from the Haitian national police that had become trapped in a ditch. The Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission stated that rescuers were attacked unexpectedly by gangs lying in wait during their efforts.
Subsequent to the ambush, specialized teams have been dispatched to search for the missing officer. The event took place during a patrol operation in Pont-Sondé, and there are concerns regarding the officer’s fate, with local media speculating that he may have been killed; however, this has not yet been verified.
This incident is not an isolated one, as there have been previous attacks on Kenyan officers in Haiti. Last month, a 26-year-old police constable lost his life during an operation in Ségur-Savien, marking the first casualty within the Kenyan deployment. The officer, Samuel Tompoi Kaetuai, was returned to Kenya for burial earlier this month.
Since June of the previous year, Kenya has sent approximately 600 police officers under the MSS mission to aid in stabilizing the country amidst rampant gang violence. Gangs currently control significant areas of Port-au-Prince and large rural regions, with over 5,500 people killed in gang-related incidents in 2024 alone, resulting in the displacement of more than a million individuals.
The abduction of a Kenyan police officer in Haiti underscores the ongoing challenges faced by international security forces in a country besieged by gang violence. The response to this incident reflects the urgency of stabilizing Haiti, where gangs have established dominance, resulting in widespread casualties and displacement. Continuous efforts and international support are critical in addressing the escalating violence and restoring safety to the Haitian populace.
Original Source: www.bbc.co.uk
