Kenyan police officers in Haiti and their Haitian counterparts have managed to take over a port that has been controlled by gangs for the past five months. The East African reports
The officers, who are part of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, managed on Wednesday, July 17, to recapture the Auorite Portuaire Nationale (APN) port, which fell to the gangs on March 6, 2024.
The port is located in Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital.
Speaking exclusively to the Nation on Thursday, July 18, MSS Mission Commander Godfrey Otunge said the gangs, who resisted the takeover, surrendered the port after an exchange of fire.
“The Kenyan contingent and the Haitian police officers managed to repulse the gangs who had started shooting at them. The officers then took over the port, which was controlled by the gangs,” said Mr Otunge.
By taking over the port, the gangs prevented food, medical and other supplies, including humanitarian aid, from entering the troubled Caribbean nation.
The port was one of the remaining entry points into Haiti used by the United Nations to deliver humanitarian aid to the people, most of whom are unable to fend for themselves.
The clash between the officers and the gangs took place just a few metres from the White Palace, the official residence of Haiti’s president.
It was the first time Kenyan officers engaged gang members in combat as they travelled from Toussaint Louverture International Airport to the Autorite Portuaire Nationale port.
Senior Assistant Inspector General of Police Otunge said Wednesday’s operation was the first to take place in the central part of the city. In the past, most of their work was done in the capital’s main square.
“Both Kenyan and Haitian agents took up positions at several points in the city as the shooting continued and managed to gain access to the port, which has been a no-go zone since March,” he said.
Initially, Kenyan police in Haiti were asked to guard critical infrastructure and patrol the streets as they slowly learned about the gangs’ operations.
