Many in Haiti jubilant, relieved as Kenyans arrive for long-awaited MSS Mission

PORT-AU-PRINCE—Nearly nine months after the United Nations Security Council authorized the deployment of a Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in Haiti, the first Kenyan contingent has finally landed in Haiti on Tuesday June 25, 2024. With them comes a sigh of relief and optimism, some Haitians here said, after surviving  the rampant abuses of armed gangs for too long. 

Johanne Célestin, a resident of Clercine 8, near Toussaint Louverture International Airport, was among dozens who came to witness the arrival of the mission. Together, they cheered for the foreign troops as the Kenya Airways flight touched down at about 9:20 a.m. on Tuesday.

“I am so happy with their arrival, I had to be on the tarmac to sing welcome to them,” Célestin said. 

Jubilance like Célestin’s has echoed across various segments of the Haitian population and within the government as the first 400 Kenyan police officers landed on Haitian soil. They see in this deployment a possibility of dismantling the various armed groups who have held the country hostage for almost three years. Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille welcomed the troops and once again promised to work together to restore peace and resume normal activities. 

“This is a vision, a strategy of this government to bring security to the territory, to allow people who had to leave their homes to return home, with a view to a recovery of different socio-economic activities, to move towards elections as soon as possible,” Conille said. “The country is going through an extremely difficult moment and we have made our commitment to attack this problem at its base, in concert with Haiti’s friendly countries to relieve the Haitian people of their suffering.”

 “We will start working gradually to bring the country back to life without any violence when it is not necessary,” Conille added. “However, I would like everyone to keep in mind that the rule of law will be restored so that everyone can live peacefully in the country. Hospitals must start functioning again. The little guy too must be able to carry out their obligations without constraint so they can take care of their family.”

Monica Juma, the head of the Kenyan delegation, reiterated that the objective is to protect the Haitian people, defend and contribute to rehabilitating state institutions destroyed by violence. armed groups.

“The Kenyan Mission is there in Haiti to serve as an agent of peace, stability and hope,” Juma said. 

Sigh of relief, hope from overwhelmed residents 

Many residents interviewed near the airport, like Célestin, shared both their sense of relief and hopes. Some said they also want the security crisis resolved and to relaunch economic activities.

Jaquelin Innocent, who returned from a trip abroad and who landed almost at the same time as the first soldiers, experienced similar emotions. Innocent said his house in Croix-des-Bouquets has been occupied by bandits for almost two years and that he was unable to work on his projects. 

“When I got off the plane and saw these police officers on the tarmac, I said to myself, ‘Now something is finally going to change in the country,’” he said. “The arrival of this mission will certainly allow me to take back my property and start again with my economic activities.” 

“They should have come a long time ago to help us restore order and go about our business,” a father said to The Haitian Times, picking up his child from school. 

In addition to the security aspect, some people interviewed by The Haitian Times see this mission as an opportunity to find employment. 

“I speak English very well and I worked as a photographer for two years with the United Nations when MINUSTAH was there,” said Jean Alain Alexis, who was also near the airport.

Indeed, the population impatiently awaited the arrival of the MSS, especially those who had to abandon their homes and who lost their source of income. 

Jacqueline Jeudi, a street vendor, said she will finally be able to freely go about her activities and take care of her family.

“More than 75% of my profits go to paying the gangs for the right to pass, which is unacceptable to us Madans Sara,” Jeudi said.

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