Guatemala Sends Troops to Support Haiti’s Struggle Against Gang Violence

A contingent of 150 Guatemalan soldiers has landed in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, as part of a multi-national effort to combat rampant gang violence that has gripped the country. The first group of 75 soldiers arrived on Friday, followed by another 75 on Saturday, all drawn from Guatemala's military police. The deployment comes in response to a dire security situation in Haiti, which has suffered from months of unrest due to the control exerted by armed gangs.

The international force, sanctioned by the United Nations, is primarily led by Kenyan police officers, who were deployed last year but have struggled to halt the escalating violence. The Guatemalan troops are part of a larger UN-approved mission, which aims to comprise 2,500 personnel from various nations. In addition to Guatemala, forces from Jamaica, Belize, and El Salvador are also participating, while the United States remains the largest financial backer of this mission.

Haiti has been under a state of emergency since March after chronic violence led to the prison break of approximately 3,700 inmates. The country has been plagued by instability over the past few years, with the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021 contributing to its downward spiral into chaos marked by economic turmoil and gang warfare. The situation remains dire with daily incidents of violence affecting the civilian population, compelling the government to seek international assistance in restoring law and order.