Haiti civilians protest departure of Kenyan police
Kenyan officers under the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) arrive from Haiti on March 17, 2026. Photo: Interior Ministry
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The last consignment of Kenyan police officers who were on a mission to restore peace in the Caribbean nation is expected to return home soon.
In a video seen by Citizen Digital, the civilians blocked the movement of Kenyan officers to St. Marks and Pont Sonde, protesting their planned departure.
Helicopters were used to carry the officers out of Petite Rivière and Pont Sonde as protesters barricaded roads to block the Kenyan police officers from leaving.
The exit of the Kenyan troops gives room for the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), approved by the United Nations Security Council in October 2025.
The new GSF will be led by Chadian forces. The first batch of Chadian police arrived in Haiti early April for the peace operation.
Jack Christofides, a South African U.N. official will lead the GSF mission, taking over from Kenya’s Godfrey Otunge, who led the MSS mission.
Christofides, who has overseen various peacekeeping operations in Africa, was appointed as Special Representative of the GSF late last year.
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