PORT-AU-PRINCE, Jan 22 (NNN-KBC) — The Kenya Police Service team in Haiti has handed over the third Forward Operating Base (FOB) to the Guatemala team.
The facility, located at the Regional Office of the Far North for the General Inspectorate of the National Police of Haiti (IGPNH), was previously abandoned following gang attacks in the area.
On Nov 28, 2024, the Multi-National Security Support (MSS) established the FOB at the IGPNH to secure the coastline and surrounding areas.
The facility has since undergone extensive renovations sponsored by the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).
The IGPNH FOB is a critical asset in the fight against gang activity in the region. It is designed to improve law enforcement response times in strategic areas, including the National Port, the Delmas district, and the porous coastline. These zones have been hotspots for gang-led smuggling of weapons and narcotics, activities that fuel violence and criminal operations.
The FOB was established to bring security services closer to the public, particularly in light of recent gang attacks in Solino and Delmas. MSS and its partners have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to countering gang threats and ensuring the safety of the Haitian population.
MSS remains dedicated to restoring Haiti to its former glory and safeguarding the well-being of its citizens.
Meawhile, the latest contingent of 217 Kenyan Police officers to Haiti has begun patrolling the capital Port-au-Prince and other towns as part of an international peacekeeping mission.
The deployment is a response to the escalating violence and widespread instability across the Caribbean nation.
The troops conduct both ground and aerial surveillance by use of drone technology to ensure the safety of residents.
Superintendent of Police Edwin Kolil says the patrols will continue until peace returns in Haiti.
The Kenyan Police Officers, trained in handling complex security situations, are working alongside other international peacekeepers, including forces from Jamaica, Guatemala, El Salvador, the Bahamas and Belize.
Their presence is part of a broader effort to stabilize Haiti, which has faced political instability, economic challenges, and a collapse in security since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.
So far, Kenya has deployed 617 police officers to Haiti. — NNN-KBC