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Situation in Haiti
- Over the weekend, gang leader Jimmy Chérizier (alias Barbecue) posted a video addressing Prime Minister, Garry Conille, offering to keep his gang off the streets and stay in their base in exchange for dialogue to resolve the security crisis.
- Conille responded to the above that a dialogue would be possible, after weapons were surrendered and the authority of the Haitian state was recognised.
- Earlier, Chérizier posted a video claiming that political and economic elites in the country had been training and equipping gang members in working-class neighbourhoods. He further stated that there would be terror in Delmas if the police did not stop targeting him.
- Rameau Normil has been reappointed as the Acting Director General of the Haitian National Police (PNH). Previously appointed in 2019 for the same role, he was dismissed in 2020 for lack of results. He now pledges to dismantle gangs and improve working conditions for PNH officers.
- Normil is replacing Frantz Elbé, who was appointed in October 2021 and has been widely criticised for incompetence, lack of leadership and being complicit with gangs.
- 455 Haitian police officers will join the PNH, having completed a 12-week training programme. The inauguration ceremony was attended by members of the Presidential Transitional Council (PTC) and the Prime Minister.
- The Deputy Director of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Mario Lubetkin, stated his concern on the trends of rising acute food insecurity in Haiti. FAO has received only 6% of the funding needed for Haiti.
- Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) received 80 tons of medical equipment and supplies on 21 June. The arrival of supplies has allowed to increase the capacity of important hospitals.
- Almost 580,000 people have been displaced in Haiti since March. The majority of the displaced people are fleeing the violence in Port-au-Prince for other provinces, which do not have enough resources to support the influx of people.
- The former leader of the 400 Mawozo gang, Germine Joly, has been sentenced to 35 years in prison in the United States for his involvement in the kidnappings and the illegal trafficking of firearms.
- The enactment of the Penal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure, scheduled for 24 June, has been postponed by 12 months due to the lack of necessary preliminary measures. Attorney Patrick Laurent emphasized the outdated nature of the current code and the societal need for updated laws.
- The PTC has held discussions on the necessary steps for the drafting and implementation of a new constitution.
Situation on the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission
- 200 Kenyan police officers arrived in Haiti on 25 June. The mission will be led by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Noor Gabow, heads of operations, Samuel Chebet, and Senior Assistant Inspector General, Geoffrey Otunge.
- Upon arrival, the Kenyan officers moved to their base, located within the perimeter of Toussaint Louverture International Airport. The next Kenyan flight is expected to arrive in Haiti on 27 June.
- The Kenyan government is currently under pressure for protests related to a tax bill.
- An agreement between Kenya and Haiti was signed on 21 June, granting personnel of the MSS mission various privileges, including duty-free importation of goods and the exclusive use of assigned premises.
- The agreement also provides for the establishment of temporary custom facilities and commissaries, and stipulates that disputes will be resolved through consultation between the parties.
- In addition, the agreement grants mission personnel immunity from jurisdiction for actions performed in their official capacity and subjects them to the exclusive jurisdiction of their participating state for any criminal offenses committed in Haiti.
- U.S. President Joe Biden thanked the countries that committed personnel and resources to the mission, adding that “The United States has and will continue to provide substantial security, humanitarian, and economic development assistance”.
- On the arrival of Kenyan officers in Haiti, Kenyan Foreign Minister Monica Juma stated that they would prioritise the protection of civilians, the facilitation of movement of people, the availability of basic goods and humanitarian aid, and the protection of national institutions.
- Aid groups Save the Children, Plan International and World Vision issued a joint statement calling for more transparency on the training, operational plan, rules of engagement, and accountability mechanisms, expressing concern on the wellbeing of children caught in the crossfire.
International situation
- The UN Security Council met on 21 June to discuss Haiti and the deployment of the MSS mission.
- The Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for thousands of Haitians in the US will expire on 4 August, whilst US Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) has not yet announced a renewal.
- Four US Senators have announced their intention to introduce the Regional Arms Control in the Americas Act (ARMAS), which aims to address the export of weapons manufactured in the US to the Americas.
Links of interest
Jimmy Chérizier, Barbecue, Expresses Desire for Dialogue
Haiti Gang Leader Barbecue Ready to End War Hours Before Kenyan Police Touchdown
“Lay Down Your Weapons,” Says Garry Conille in Response to Gangs’ Dialogue Appeal
Haiti Gang Leader Barbecue Alleges Politicians and Economic Elites Are Sponsoring Gangs
Rameau Normil, Back at the Helm of the PNH, Vows to Neutralize and Dismantle Gangs
455 Haitian police officers to join PNH’s specialized units after completing 12-week training
Haiti – Social : FAO fears a further deterioration of acute food insecurity in Haiti
Haiti – Good news : MSF receives 80 tons of medical equipment and supplies
Gang violence in Haiti has displaced nearly 580,000 people, a new UN report says
Haiti Gang Leader Germine Joly, Alias ‘Yonyon,’ Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison for Arms Smuggling
New Penal Code Implementation Delayed to June 2025
Le CPT lance des travaux sur la réforme constitutionnelle
MMAS: First Kenyan Police Contingent Arrives in Port-au-Prince
The three top police officials who’ll lead Kenya’s Haiti mission
Anti-Tax Riots Rock Kenya, as President Vows Crackdown on ‘Treasonous’ Protesters
Privileges and Legal Protections for Multinational Mission Members
Kenya and Haiti Sign Multinational Mission Status Agreement
Haiti – USA : Statement by President Biden on the deployment of the Multinational Mission in Haiti
Haiti PM vows to retake country as first Kenyan police arrive
Haiti: Private Meeting
Patricia Elizée Raises Concerns over TPS Non-Renewal for Haitians
USA: Legislation Proposed to Curb American Arms Export to the Hemisphere
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