A Kenyan police officer has gone missing amid a gang ambush in Haiti. This incident occurred while assisting a stranded police vehicle in Pont-Sondé. Following the attack, specialized search teams were deployed, and local reports suggest the officer may have been killed. This incident arrives after previous violence against Kenyan officers, revealing the ongoing struggles with gang control in Haiti.
A Kenyan police officer, involved in the international security force in Haiti, has gone missing due to an ambush by suspected gang members. The incident unfolded while the officer’s unit was assisting a Haitian national police vehicle that had become stuck in a ditch, according to the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission to Haiti. The mission reported that gang members attacked while rescue efforts were underway.
The ambush occurred on a Tuesday during a patrol operation in the town of Pont-Sondé. Following the incident, specialized teams have been dispatched to search for the missing officer. Local media have suggested that the officer may have been killed, but this information remains unverified.
This ambush is part of an ongoing pattern of violence against Kenyan officers in Haiti. In the previous month, a 26-year-old police constable was fatally shot during an operation in Ségur-Savien, marking the first fatal incident within the Kenyan deployment. The deceased officer, Samuel Tompoi Kaetuai, was repatriated and laid to rest recently.
Kenya has sent upwards of 600 police officers to Haiti under the MSS mission, which began in June of the previous year, with the intent to help restore order. This initiative comes in response to the severe gang violence, as gangs have taken control of much of Port-au-Prince and surrounding rural regions. In 2024 alone, gang-related violence has led to over 5,500 deaths and displaced more than a million individuals.
The recent disappearance of a Kenyan police officer in Haiti underscores the grave security challenges posed by gang violence in the country. Despite the international efforts, the situation remains dire, with escalating violence leading to casualties among law enforcement personnel. The Kenyan deployment, aimed at assisting in stabilizing Haiti, faces significant risks as gang activities continue to wreak havoc across the nation.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
