UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations traveled to Haiti on Monday to meet leaders of the new transitional government and the Kenyan police who are the vanguard of a U.N.-backed force meant to help the country’s national police curb widespread gang violence.
A senior U.S. administration official said Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield’s one-day visit also seeks to encourage action on Haiti’s humanitarian crisis and political reform leading to democratic elections in 2026. #HaitiGangViolence
The ambassador will make two major announcements related to Haiti’s security and humanitarian crises, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of the visit.
Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse on July 7, 2021, gangs have gained power. They now control up to 80% of Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas. This surge in violence has triggered a violent uprising by civilian vigilante groups.
The new transitional government, led by Prime Minister Garry Conille, has received broad international support. Conille, a former U.N. development specialist, arrived in Haiti in early June. He recently told the U.N. Security Council that Kenyan police will be vital in controlling gangs and advancing towards democratic elections.
According to U.N. agencies, the violence has displaced 580,000 people, more than half of whom are children, and resulted in 4 million people facing food insecurity. #HaitiGangViolence
Thomas-Greenfield will visit the Kenyan police force’s living complex in a show of support for the U.N. mission to Haiti. She will also meet with Conille and members of the transitional presidential council. Additionally, Thomas-Greenfield plans to engage with U.N. and civil society representatives.
The US Ambassador’s visit aims to strengthen these alliances and enhance strategies to combat Haiti gang violence effectively.
