Africa-Press – Kenya. A Kenyan delegation has held talks with Haiti’s newly elected head of the transitional presidential council, Laurent Saint-Cyr, over ongoing operations against surging criminal gangs in the Caribbean nation.
The delegation, led by Deputy National Security Adviser Joseph Boinnet and Kenya’s Consul General to Haiti Noor Gabow, was joined by the head of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS), Godfrey Otunge.
Officials said Saint-Cyr expressed satisfaction with the MSS operations so far, even as gangs fight for control of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
Boinnet is in Haiti on a review mission assessing the performance of the 800 Kenya Police officers leading the UN-backed MSS. Plans are underway to deploy more Kenyan officers, with the UN set to discuss, review, and potentially renew the mission’s mandate next month in New York.
Kenyan officers, deployed since June 25, 2024, have been conducting round-the-clock patrols and reinforcing security around critical infrastructure. “Armed gangs had plotted to disrupt national stability and render the country ungovernable,” the MSS said in a statement.
Saint-Cyr Takes Office Amid Deep Crisis
Saint-Cyr was elected on August 7 to head the transitional presidential council tasked with restoring order in Haiti, where gangs control 90% of neighbourhoods in the capital.
His appointment marked the first time members of Haiti’s private sector held both the rotating presidency and prime minister posts.
He will work alongside Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, a former internet company president and ex-head of Haiti’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Saint-Cyr began his career in the insurance sector, while Fils-Aimé’s background is in the technology industry.
Gang Leader Faces US Charges
The challenges facing Haiti’s new leadership were underscored when US prosecutors announced criminal charges against Jimmy Cherizier, also known as “Barbecue,” a former police officer who leads the powerful gang alliance Viv Ansanm.
Cherizier and US citizen Bazile Richardson, 48, allegedly solicited funds from the Haitian diaspora in the US to finance gang activities and purchase firearms, in violation of US sanctions.
The US is offering a $5 million reward for information leading to Cherizier’s arrest. He is accused of multiple murders, kidnappings, and attacks on infrastructure.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The gang violence has fueled a worsening humanitarian crisis. UN reports estimate that 5.7 million Haitians—more than half the population—face acute food insecurity, with over one million internally displaced.
Efforts are ongoing to deescalate violence and restore stability, as international partners work to prevent further deterioration.
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