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Residents of a rural hamlet east of Port-au-Prince found temporary solace last week when an armored convoy of Kenyan and Haitian police forces arrived amid an active gang attack. The heavily armed 400 Mawozo gang members fled into the bushes as the convoy rolled into Ganthier, sparking hope among fleeing residents planning their return. However, less than 24 hours after the mission began, the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission withdrew, leaving Ganthier vulnerable once more.
The mission, primarily funded by the U.S. and led by Kenya, aimed to showcase the potential of an international armed force in restoring security in Haiti. Instead, it highlighted the mission’s shortcomings. Following the Kenyan forces’ departure, 400 Mawozo gang members swiftly returned, looting homes and businesses, and issuing threats of further violence. Their reach extended beyond Ganthier to neighboring Fonds-Parisien, prompting local authorities to halt cargo transport to prevent it from falling into gang hands.
“Everyone in the area is panicking because of the messages and threats from the head of 400 Mawozo,” said a resident who requested anonymity. “People from Ganthier ran to Fonds-Parisien, and now they are on the run again with nowhere left to go.”
Jean Viloner Victor, the mayor of both Ganthier and Fonds-Parisien, acknowledged the intervention’s temporary relief but noted, “Even though the police are trying to hold on, nothing has changed. The people still cannot return home.”
On Monday, as rumors spread that 400 Mawozo leader Lanmou SanJou had cut access across the Bonnet bridge, Victor sought a meeting with Haitian police to explore further action. Vanda Felbab-Brown, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, remarked that the failed intervention underscores the need for improved planning and resources in future operations. “It seems so under-cooked in the very, very initial planning,” she said.
The mission’s shortcomings were further emphasized during an incident at the General Hospital in Port-au-Prince. Shots rang out as Prime Minister Garry Conille and his entourage toured the gang-ravaged facility, causing panic among Kenyan police officers.
Felbab-Brown criticized the mission’s lack of resources and planning. “The mission is so under-resourced,” she said, noting the inadequacy of the armored vehicles supplied by the U.S., which lack towers necessary for effective combat.
A spokesperson for the Kenyan Force Commander, Godfrey Otunge, acknowledged that logistical issues forced the troops to withdraw from Ganthier. “If we were fully resourced, we would have set up a base there,” he said.
Residents of Ganthier and Fonds-Parisien face continued threats from the gang. SanJou, in a video message, accused the people of Fonds-Parisien of betrayal and threatened to block the area from commercial traffic. Jean-Bernard Son, a local leader in Fonds-Parisien, expressed deep concern. “Once he makes a threat, he plans them; if he doesn’t have enough guys in his base, he buys them from elsewhere,” Son said, highlighting the gang’s financial and military strength.
Despite the arrival of a new police chief and officers in Ganthier, fear and panic persist among residents. “They didn’t shoot one bullet,” Son said, expressing skepticism about the mission’s efficacy. “That gives us a lot of worry.”
The residents of Ganthier and Fonds-Parisien remain caught in a cycle of violence and uncertainty, hoping for a more robust and effective response from both local and international forces.
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