Haitian PM seeks international help after gang attack

By Sabina Abubekirova

October 7, 2024 10:42

Reuters

The Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille plans to travel to the United Arab Emirates and Kenya in hopes of securing help after another gang attack happened in the country.

The town of Pont-Sonde faced a brutal attack last Thursday. Members of the Gran Grif gang stormed through the city, killing at least 70 people, including children. They also forced around 6000 residents to flee. This was one of the most lethal gang attacks Haiti had seen in recent years.

Before his departure, Conille visited victims in a nearby hospital. He promised increased resources for security in the area.

While in the UAE, PM plans to discuss regular police support to strengthen Haiti’s national police. After the UAE, he will travel to Nairobi, Kenya.

“One of the aims of this trip is to go to Kenya to talk to President Ruto about speeding the deployment of Kenyan troops as quickly as possible to continue supporting the national police force”, Conille said in a press conference before the trip.

Last week, the U.N. Security Council authorized another year of international assistance for Haitian police, but progress remains slow. Promised support has yet to arrive, and only about 400 police officers, mostly from Kenya, are currently on the ground.