Hell on Earth: Violent Details of Kenya’s New War Zone in Haiti

Kenyan police officers are gearing up for a challenging mission in Haiti, a country that is on the verge of collapse and where other nations have backed out.

Following the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, the situation in the nation has rapidly decayed. Armed gangs now rule over 80 per cent of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and Kenya has been asked to send 1,000 officers to support Haiti's 10,000 policemen who are struggling to maintain law and order. President William Ruto, USA’s new ally, has fostered emerging relations with Haiti, vowing to send the police officers to help initiate calm in what has become a volatile political and social climate.

While the UN Security Council endorsed a resolution on peacekeeping in Haiti, no country was willing to lead the mission until Kenya took a stride. The country holds the verve of being the world's oldest independent black republic after the enslaved blacks overthrew their French masters in 1791. In the past, Haiti has encountered many challenges including repaying loans to French banks to compensate slave owners for losing slaves.

There are concerns about the potential of repeating intervention mistakes in the West Indies country since Kenyan police lack international experience and solely possess 'expertise' in quelling violent protests. Presently, no elected government exists in Haiti, and those who were once senators have already given up their seats. Consequentially Haiti is considered to be a failed country currently under the control of a caretaker government that is already facing pressure from violent gang leaders.

Heading into Haiti means entering one of the troubled areas in the West Indies. The situation in the country strongly challenges collective action and international solidarity. During his speech at the UN General Assembly, Dr Ruto expressed disappointment in the way Haiti has been let down by the international community.

The current unrest in the country is rooted in a history of Western interference, slavery, and resentment. Although gang leader Jimmy ‘Barbecue’ Cherizier has been sanctioned by the Security Council, he presents himself as a revolutionary fighting for a new Haiti that benefits everyone, not just the wealthy minority. Ruto sees Haiti as an opportunity to establish connections with the US and strengthen his geopolitical standing. However, human rights groups caution that the situation in Haiti is perilous as the gangs have become more well-armed, influential, and technologically advanced. These concerns were raised by Gédéon Jean, the director of the Center for Analysis and Research in Human Rights in Port-au-Prince.