Haiti’s already fragile security landscape is entering a new phase as nearly 500 Kenyan police officers begin a gradual withdrawal after months of supporting operations against armed gangs across the country.
The departure, expected to be completed by Thursday, April 30, 2026, has left the Haitian National Police and the Armed Forces of Haiti scrambling to address critical operational gaps, particularly in areas previously stabilized through joint patrols.
Speaking at the 6th Conference of the Sectoral Security Table (TSS), PNH Director General Vladimir Paraison acknowledged that the force is at a turning point and warned that the exit of Kenyan personnel has weakened security positions in volatile zones such as Croix-des-Bouquets, Delmas, and downtown Port-au-Prince.
He described the departing Kenyan contingent as a “second line of defense,” while Massillon Jean warned that residents fear renewed gang activity without their presence.
The Kenyan deployment had been operating under a multinational security framework since June 2024, but delays in establishing Haiti’s planned Gang Repression Force (FRG) have complicated the transition. Authorities say timelines remain uncertain even as the government moves ahead with plans to expand the national army’s role.
Officials expect the Armed Forces of Haiti to reach about 400 personnel by the end of April, with responsibilities focused on holding reclaimed territory while police units continue frontline operations.
Defense Minister Mario Andrésol also announced plans to train 1,200 new recruits to strengthen military capacity.
The withdrawal coincides with the rollout of a new UN-backed Gang Suppression Force (GSF), approved by the United Nations Security Council in October 2025. The mission will be led by Chadian forces, with South African UN official Jack Christofides appointed as special representative to oversee the multinational effort. Christofides previously directed peacekeeping operations in Africa and succeeds Kenya’s Godfrey Otunge in the role.
The first group of Chadian personnel has already arrived in Haiti as part of the new mission rollout.
While Kenyan forces recorded operational gains during their deployment, the mission also suffered losses, including at least three officers killed in the line of duty.
