The Dominican Republic once again is stepping up border surveillance after the announcement the first Kenya security forces have arrived in Haiti to combat gang violence. The first 400 police contingent is part of a promised 1,000-men mission. Other countries, including Algeria, Benin, Chad, Bangladesh, Jamaica, Belize and the Bahamas, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada, France, Germany, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and Spain have promised to send another 1,500 troops.
The Kenya government of President William Ruto has explained that the initial group of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MMSS) is made up of elite officers from several units including the anti-terrorist squadron, which fought radical Somali Islamists Shebab on Kenyan soil. Others are members of the Rapid Deployment Unit, the Border Patrol Unit, also engaged in the fight against Shebab, members of the Rapid Deployment Unit, the General Services Unit, the administrative police and the Kenyan police, according to the Kenyan government, as reported in Haitian Times.
Noor Gabow (Deputy Inspector General of the Kenya Police) has the role of coordinating the training and capacity development of the troops from Nairobi, and is accompanying the first battalion to supervise the deployment before returning to Kenya from where he will continue his coordination duties.
Commissioner Stephen Chebet has been appointed head of operations of the general services unit.
The MMSS arrived to Haiti on board a Kenya Airways flight that disembarked in Port-au-Prince. The arrival ironically coincided with major vandalism at the Kenya Congress building in Nairobi and violent national protests over increased taxation.
The new acting Prime Minister of Haiti issued a statement saluting the determination of the Kenyan government and its people to support Haiti in the fight against the insecurity that is corroding its society. “The government and the Haitian people want this multinational mission to be the last one that helps it stabilize for the renewal of political personnel and the return to effective democracy. Long live solidarity between peoples! Long live Haiti !,” said Prime Minister Garry Conille.
In the Dominican Republic Dominican Armed Forces, in coordination with the National Army, the Border Security Specialized Corps (Cesfront), and the Migration Agency (DGM), have activated security controls along the southern border, mainly across from Pedernales province.
The arrival of the Kenyan troops has raised concerns among Pedernales residents, who fear that Haitian gang members may cross the border. The Dominican Armed Forces says the government has taken steps to reinforce border security.
“We are taking all necessary measures to safeguard our borders and protect our citizens,” assured a spokesperson for the Dominican Armed Forces. “We are working closely with our Haitian counterparts to ensure a peaceful and secure border environment.”
Residents of Pedernales have urged the Dominican government to further strengthen border security. “We need more security personnel and better surveillance equipment to effectively control the border,” stated a local community leader, as reported in Hoy.
On the diplomatic front, President Luis Abinader when answering journalist questions on the arrival of the Kenyan troops to Haiti during his Monday, 24 June 2024 press conference had stated: “I think the arrival of those 400 Kenyan police is positive for Haiti, the Dominican Republic and all the region. This government had more than three years urging the international community to act, and it was but a year ago [in October 2023] that the decision was taken,” he said.
Abinader also valued the position taken by the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and its president, President Mohamed Irfaan Ali of Guyana, who has personally become involved to push forward solutions for Haiti.
President Abinader mentioned the country is ready for situations that could happen at the border and said that earlier in the month when he was in Switzerland to attend the Summit for Peace in Ukraine, he met with Kenya President William Ruto of Kenya.
During the same 24 June 2024 press conference, President Abinader said that reports that gang members and fugitives of the law are crossing the border to the Dominican Republic are but speculations. He said Dominican special forces are investigating the possibility, but there have been no confirmations.
Likewise, Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez expressed his satisfaction with the arrival of the Kenyan troops to Haiti to lead the UN-authorized MMSS mission and combat gang violence. Alvarez posted a message on X saluting the arrival of the expected security support mission to Haiti. “The mandate of resolution 2699 of the UN Security Council and reaffirms international solidarity with the Haitian people is implemented,” he wrote. Alvarez is traveling this week to Asunción, Paraguay to participate in the Organization of American States general assembly.
Read more in Spanish:
Voice of America
El Dia
Hoy
Hoy
Diario Libre
Noticias SIN
Haiti Times
CNN
26 June 2024