Haitian PM on a visit to Kenya and UAE

Prime Minister Garry Conille is on a visit to Kenya and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with security of the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country high on his agenda.

The objective of his visit to Kenya is to discuss with Kenyan President William Ruto the arrival of the next contingents of police officers as part of the deployment of the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission in Haiti.

“One of the aims of this trip is to go to Kenya to discuss with President Ruto how we can speed up the deployment of remnants of the Kenyan troops as quickly as possible to continue supporting the national police force,” Conille said.

Last week, the United Nations Security Council authorized for another year an international security force that is intended to help local police fight gangs and provide law and order.
During his visit to the UAE, Prime Minister Conille said he would discuss with his counterpart  “how we can find regular flows to help the Haitian national police to combat security.”

According to the Prime Minister’s agenda, other meetings are planned with authorities from several African countries to discuss the socio-security crisis and opportunities for Haiti.
Last week, members of the Temporary Anti-Gang Unit (UTAG) were deployed to track down the members of the Gran Grif gang blamed for massacre in Pont-Sondé in the central Artibonite region north-west of the capital, Port-au-Prince.

Media reports describe Gran Grif as one of the most violent of Haiti’s gangs. In January last year, members were accused of attacking a police station near Port-Sondé and killing six officers. It is also blamed for forcing the closure of a hospital serving more than 700,000 people.
The gang has about 100 members and has been accused of crimes including murder, rape, robberies and kidnappings.

According to a UN report, Prophane Victor, a former legislator, who represented the Artibonite department, began arming young men who eventually formed the Gran Grif gang to secure his election and control over the area.

Last month, the United States imposed sanctions on Victor.

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, Oct 7, CMC
CMC/af/ir/2024

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