Kenya and Haiti: A Landmark Agreement on Police Deployment
Kenya and Haiti have set a precedent with a bilateral agreement to allow deployment of Kenyan law enforcement in Haiti, a country currently plagued by gang-related violence. Kenya’s President, William Ruto, announced this development, describing the deal as “reciprocal.”
The Deal: A Brief Overview
The agreement, signed by Kenya and Haiti, allows for the mobilization of Kenyan police to spearhead a UN-backed peacekeeping mission in Haiti. The Caribbean nation is currently grappling with a severe gang violence crisis.
markdown Copy code
Ruto remarked on Friday that he and Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry had "discussed the next steps to enable the fast-tracking of the deployment”
However, it remains unclear if this agreement will effectively overrule a court judgment from January that declared the deployment “unconstitutional.”
The Current Situation in Haiti
Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, is presently experiencing a surge in deadly gang-related violence, leading to a shutdown of businesses and schools, and even causing flight cancellations.
Once the agreement is operational, Kenya has committed to providing up to 1,000 personnel. This proposition received positive responses from the United States, along with other countries that have refrained from deploying their own forces.
Legal Hurdles and the Way Forward
Interestingly, the deployment was deemed unconstitutional by a Nairobi court, mainly due to the lack of a reciprocal agreement between the two countries. This recent agreement could potentially address this legal obstacle.
President Ruto and Prime Minister Henry “witnessed the signing” of the reciprocal agreement in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital. Ruto reiterated Kenya’s commitment to the success of the mission, calling it a “historic duty”.
The Role of The UN
The UN Security Council had greenlit the mission in early October. However, concerns in Kenya regarding Nairobi’s involvement instigated a court challenge, casting doubt on the future of a much-needed multinational force.
Despite these legal hurdles, the current government of Haiti, which has been pleading for international assistance, is hopeful that this mission can help address the violence that has claimed nearly 5,000 lives.
Opposition and Controversy
The deployment has also faced opposition in Kenya. Opposition politician Ekuru Aukot, who had filed a petition against the deployment, declared his intention to lodge a case “for contempt of court.”
Haiti’s Turmoil: A Closer Look
Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere, has been in a state of chaos for several years. Armed gangs have seized control of parts of the country, perpetrating brutal violence, and leaving the economy and public health system in shreds.
Gang leader Jimmy Cherisier, also known as “Barbecue,” announced plans for an attack on state security forces in a bid to oust Prime Minister Henry. Cherisier’s announcement came in a social media video just before the conflicts began.
The Political Landscape in Haiti
In Haiti, there are currently no elected officials. Prime Minister Henry assumed his position with the support of the international community shortly after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021. A political deal required the prime minister to transfer power to elected officials by February 7 this year, but this has yet to occur.
