Port-au-Prince, Haiti — Kenyan police officers were seen patrolling outside the US embassy in Haiti’s capital on Friday. Wearing body armor, and helmets, and carrying automatic weapons, the officers engaged with curious onlookers, assuring them of their peaceful mission. “We are here to bring peace, of course, not to fight,” one officer said.
The arrival of Kenyan police marks the first U.N.-backed contingent of foreign police to land in Haiti, nearly two years after the Caribbean nation urgently sought international assistance to address escalating gang violence.
Nearby, Jimmy Cherizier, also known as Barbecue, a former elite police officer turned gang leader of the G9 Family and Allies, held an impromptu press conference. Standing in the street with a microphone, Cherizier criticized Prime Minister Garry Connille for not engaging in dialogue with his gang federation.
“Let’s focus on the solution; the real solution is a national dialogue where every Haitian without discrimination has the right to speak,” Cherizier stated. “We want dialogue because we don’t want war. We want dialogue because we want peace.”
In a departure from his usual appearance, Cherizier wore a flashy red suit instead of his typical uniform and guns.
The situation in Haiti remains tense as the country grapples with surging gang violence and political instability, highlighting the urgent need for effective intervention and dialogue.
