Kenyan police officer injured by gang gunfire amid wave of violence in Haiti

PORT-AU-PRINCE — A Kenyan police officer deployed to Haiti was injured Tuesday by gang gunfire in Bélot, Kenscoff, a hillside area located 15 miles southeast of Port-au-Pince, during an operation to restore security. The officer, whose identity remains undisclosed, suffered an arm injury and was airlifted to a medical facility for treatment, according to Jack Ombaka, spokesperson for the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS).

Since February, armed gangs from the Viv Ansanm coalition led by Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier have been terrorizing Kenscoff, killing residents and burning homes in a bid to seize control of the strategic area linking the Western and Southeastern departments. Haitian and Kenyan police have joined forces to push back the gangs responsible for the attacks. The region faces a surge in criminal violence, which has claimed the lives of more than 150 people, according to the Je Klere Foundation (FJKL).

MSS has suffered its third casualty as six law enforcement officers were targeted in Kenscoff.

The injured Kenyan officer marks the third MSS casualty, following the Feb. 23 fatal shooting of Officer Samuel Tompei Kaetuai in Savien, Artibonite, and another officer was wounded last July.

Haitian forces have also suffered heavy losses in Kenscoff:

• Feb. 16 – A Haitian Armed Forces (FADH) soldier and two Protected Areas Security Brigade (BSAP) agents were killed, while two other soldiers were injured.
• Feb. 17 – A police officer from the Anti-Gang Tactical Unit (UTAG) died of gunshot wounds; gangs also set an armored police vehicle on fire.

Meanwhile, gang violence is escalating across the capital, with clashes reported in Carrefour-Feuilles, Delmas, Christ-Roi, and Kenscoff, leaving residents in fear and uncertainty.

Schools, humanitarian organizations shut down amid violence

Amid intensifying attacks, schools and humanitarian institutions have begun suspending operations for safety reasons.

• Institution Saint-Louis de Gonzague announced the closure of its academic and administrative activities from March 18, with online classes set to begin on March 20.
• Collège Canado-Haïtien, Roger Anglade, and Institution Chrétienne Mixte Les Gédéon have also shut down indefinitely.
• Food for the Poor closed its main office in Port-au-Prince, citing an unbearable surge in violence.

Meanwhile, Doctors Without Borders (MSF, its French acronym) suspended operations at its Turgeau Emergency Center after four of its vehicles came under gunfire.

“This attack is a brutal reminder that no one is safe in the context of ongoing violence between armed groups and law enforcement,” Benoit Vasseur, MSF mission head in Haiti, said in a statement posted on the organization’s site.

Gang attacks continue to force thousands on the run daily

Beyond targeted violence, gangs have burned two radio stations and a Television channel, prompting a mass exodus from affected areas.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on March 18 that nearly 60,000 people have been displaced in one month. Most are sheltering in 48 displacement camps, while others seek refuge with already overwhelmed host families.

“This alarming surge in displacements underscores the relentless cycle of violence devastating Haiti’s capital,” said Grégoire Goodstein, IOM’s Chief in Haiti.

Port-au-Prince under siege as gangs push further

The Haitian capital is increasingly surrounded by gangs, with law enforcement struggling to push them back.

The Viv Ansanm coalition, formed by G9 family and allies and G Pèp, has gained ground:

• South: Grand-Ravin and Village-de-Dieu gangs are attacking Carrefour-Feuilles, Pacot, and Debussy.
• North: The Canaan gang (led by Jeff Larose) and Croix-des-Bouquets gang (led by Wilson “Lanmò San Jou” Joseph) have tightened their grip.
• Hills of Pétion-Ville: Vitelhomme Innocent’s gang continues operations.
• Lower Delmas: Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier’s faction remains entrenched.
• Fontamara: The “Krisla” gang, led by Caïd Christ-Roi “Krisla” Chéry, alongside other criminal groups, is attacking Kenscoff.

Despite police efforts, residents remain trapped in a cycle of terror.

“With the aim of protecting the population, the Haitian National Police, through specialized units and the heavy machinery section, is more than determined to continue the fight against armed gangs,” the PNH said in a statement.

Still, many Haitians question whether the security forces—already stretched thin—can contain the escalating violence.

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