Haitian police officers are demanding better protection and treatment following the killing of a Kenyan police officer who was part of a U.N.-backed mission fighting gangs in Haiti. The police unions in Haiti are calling on government officials to provide more equipment and backup as gangs controlling 85% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, continue to attack neighborhoods to expand their territory.
The leader of one police union emphasized the need for increased security measures to save lives in the country. Civilian protesters joined the demands, holding signs that read, 'We deserve security.'
The call for action comes after a Kenyan police officer was shot in Haiti's Artibonite region, where several gangs, including Gran Grif, are active. The union leader also highlighted issues such as delayed payments to police officers and the need for financial support for families of slain law enforcement.
Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé addressed the concerns, stating that the government is committed to enhancing security through significant investments in equipment for Haiti's National Police. He acknowledged the humanitarian crisis in the country, with over 5,600 reported deaths last year and more than one million people displaced due to gang violence.
Fils-Aimé declared that Haiti is at war with the gangs and that the police will continue to combat them, aiming to hold general elections for the first time in nearly a decade. He assured that there is a strategy, will, and resources in place to address the insecurity issues.
Kenya has deployed hundreds of police officers to support the Haitian law enforcement efforts. Recently, an additional 200 officers from Kenya joined the multinational force, which includes personnel from countries like Jamaica, Guatemala, and El Salvador, working alongside Haiti's National Police.
