Kenyan-Led Haiti Support Officers Gun Down 20 Gang Members, Injures Notorious Leader
On Sunday and Monday, at least twenty Haitian gang members were shot dead during a security operation conducted by Haitian police and Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM) officers.
The operation was conducted out in Torcel, a village 14 kilometers from Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. Torcel is recognized for being the stronghold of “Kraze baryè,” one of Haiti’s most resistant gangs.
The operation attempted to locate and dismantle armed gangs across the country, including the Kraze baryè gang. During the operation, authorities shot and killed at least twenty gang members.
During the showdown, the peacekeepers viciously injured the second leader of the Kraze baryè gang, Deshomme.
Several goods, including rifles, ammunition, mobile phones, sensitive materials, and equipment, were confiscated during the operation.
MSS continues to fulfill its mandate as espoused in the recently extended UNSCR 2751 to October 2025. This therefore calls for unequivocal commitment from the Haitian population that has remained steadfast in condemning and calling out the atrocities that criminal gangs have been… pic.twitter.com/3J69FMmZVw
— Multinational Security Support Mission to Haiti (@MSSMHaiti) October 15, 2024
“Our brave police officers have carried out penetrations into strategic areas used by criminals for some time to commit their crimes,” read part of the statement by the Haitian National Police(HNP).
“As part of the fight to track down armed gangs throughout the national territory, the Haitian National Police continues its operations and interventions in several areas of the country.”
Despite defeating the gangs, an armoured truck transporting Kenyan officers suffered engine failure and could not be restarted, despite the assistance of on-site technicians.
“The PNH remains mobilized in the continuation of these said operations in order to neutralize the leader of the Gang and terrorist, Vitelhomme Innocent and his acolytes,” the statement by the Haitian police read.
The developments take place against the backdrop of Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille’s visit to Kenya. During his visit, Conille praised Kenyan police for their tremendous efforts to restore peace in the Caribbean island.
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While speaking to the press at State House in Nairobi, the two presidents urged the international community to do more to assist restore peace in Haiti.
“Kenya and Haiti, therefore, stand united in calling on the international community to urgently rally behind this Mission. The adoption by the United Nations Security Council to extend the term of the MSS by another year signals strong global support,” Ruto stated.
“Words and pledges must be matched by concrete action. We therefore strongly implore our global partners to accelerate their contribution to the personnel, logistics and financial resources necessary to sustain and expand the Mission,” he added.
Conille’s visit to Kenya also came after a recent gang violence, which saw up to seventy Haitians killed after gang members resorted to shooting locals in Central Haiti.
Kenyan-Led Haiti Support Officers Gun Down 20 Gang Members, Injures Notorious Leader