Haitian forces and Kenyan police team up for joint operation against gangs in Port-au-Prince

Haitian security forces, in collaboration with Kenyan police officers, have launched a joint operation to expel criminal gangs from one of the most dangerous areas in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, Prime Minister Garry Conille announced.

During a visit to a hospital in Port-au-Prince, Conille provided updates on the operation while meeting with three Haitian police officers injured in a gunfight in the gang-dominated Bel Air neighborhood, a hotspot for violence and poverty.

“I am tired of seeing police officers shot. I am tired of attending their funerals. We must address this insecurity,” Conille said.

Although Conille shared few details about the operation and did not take questions at the brief news conference, he urged the public to support law enforcement by sharing information that could help curb crime.

Haiti has seen a sharp increase in violence this year, with more than 3,200 killings reported between January and May. Gangs now control 80 percent of Port-au-Prince, forcing over half a million people from their homes as they fight for territory.

“This won’t be quick,” Conille cautioned. “We need to be patient.”

To help tackle the growing gang violence, a U.N.-backed mission led by Kenya has sent about 400 police officers to Haiti. In the coming months, more police and soldiers from countries including Benin, Chad, and Jamaica are expected to join, increasing the total number of foreign personnel to 2,500.