Haiti’s Prime Minister, Gary Conille, has urged gangs to surrender their weapons, citing the devastating impact of gang violence on the capital city of Port-au-Prince.
According to the UN, over 2,500 people, including 82 children, have been killed or injured in the first three months of the year.
Conille’s call comes as a Multinational Security Support Mission, comprising police officers from Kenya, Chad, and Benin, deploys to Haiti to support local authorities in restoring security.
The mission follows a wave of coordinated attacks by gangs in February, which targeted key infrastructure, including police stations, the international airport, and prisons.
The violence led to the resignation of former Prime Minister Ariel Henry and the installation of a transitional presidential council.
While gang violence has diminished slightly since the arrival of Kenyan forces in late June, the situation remains dire, with gangs controlling an estimated 80% of the capital.
Conille’s appeal to gangs to “drop their weapons and recognize the authority of the state” is seen as a crucial step towards restoring peace and stability to Haiti.
