Overview:
Haiti’s National Police and Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) forces conducted joint operations Tuesday against a stronghold of the Kokorat San Ras gang in Gonaïves. Despite their efforts, no arrests were made, but several homes and vehicles were set ablaze during the clashes. One police officer was injured, according to Departmental Director Kalerbe Exantus.
GONAÏVES —A contingent of 100 police officers from the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS), mostly composed of Kenyan officers, has been deployed to Haiti’s Artibonite Department to assist the Haitian National Police (PNH) in operations against powerful gangs, notably Kokorat San Ras and Gran Grif, two of the most feared criminal groups in the department. The deployment, part of the larger effort to curb escalating gang violence in the country, began in Gonaïves and Saint-Marc on Tuesday.
The PNH’s newly installed departmental director, Kalerbe Exantus, confirmed that the Kenyan MSS officers were deployed to reinforce local security forces.
“The focus is on dismantling the Kokorat San Ras and Grand Grif gangs, which have been terrorizing families in the region, especially in L’Estère, Liancourt, Saint-Marc, Pont-Sondé, Petite-Rivière, La Croix Périsse, Terre-Neuve and Gros-Morne,” the new departmental director told a pool of local reporters.
“Our objective is to eradicate these gangs and restore peace to the people of Artibonite,” he said. “The MSS police, alongside specialized units of the Haitian police, will make that possible,” assured Exantus, who replaced Jean Louis Paul Ménard in the role after the massacre orchestrated by the Gran Grif gang in Pont-Sondé on Oct. 3.
The joint operations come as Artibonite has become a hotspot for criminal activities, with gangs regularly killing people, burning homes and farms, and extorting residents and businesses.
In August, after gang members from Kokorat San Ras perpetrated a bloodbath in two localities of Gros-Morne, they demanded ransoms from families, charging up to $298 per household for “protection.” They’ve also disrupted critical transport routes, extorting truck drivers on National Road #1, a major artery that connects northern Haiti with the rest of the country, particularly the capital Port-au-Prince.
Acceleration of gang violence in Artibonite
Over the past several months, the Kokorat San Ras and Gran Grif gangs have expanded their grip on Artibonite, setting up illegal checkpoints and wreaking havoc on the once-peaceful communities. Residents have been left terrified, with many fleeing the area or complying with the gang’s extortion demands out of fear for their lives.
The gangs’ presence has been particularly destructive in Liancourt, Pont-Sondé, Terre-Neuve and Gros-Morne, where at least 200 people were killed in a wave of violence between June and October.
According to Exantus, one goal of the joint PNH-MSS operation is to prevent the gang from occupying strategic points on National Road #1 and dislodge them from their strongholds.
“Our objective is to eradicate these gangs and restore peace to the people of Artibonite. The MSS police, alongside specialized units of the Haitian police, will make that possible.”
Kalerbe Exantus, Departmental Director of the Haitian National Police
On the morning of the first MSS contingent deployment, officers raided a Kokorat San Ras stronghold in the first communal section of La Croix Périsse on National Road #1. The operation started around 4 a.m. and aimed to reclaim occupied territory from the gang.
Despite their efforts, no arrests were made, but several homes and vehicles were set ablaze during the clashes. One police officer was injured, according to Departmental Director Exantus.
“The operation is expected to continue until the gang’s influence is fully eradicated,” he said. “We will not stop until the roads are safe again.”
Local protests and community frustration
As the security operation unfolded, dozens of residents gathered in front of the Toussaint Louverture Police Station in Gonaïves, demanding more decisive police action against the gangs. Similarly, residents of L’Estère and surrounding areas have long complained about the increasing lawlessness in the region, accusing the authorities of not doing enough to protect them.
“We are ready to confront the Kokorat San Ras gang ourselves if necessary, but we need the full support of the National police,” said Jobed Jeannite, a protest organizer. “The people cannot continue to live under the thumb of these criminals.”
The Artibonite region, particularly Gonaïves and Saint-Marc, has faced ongoing security challenges. Gangs are gaining strength due to the weakening of law enforcement and the economic instability plaguing the country. Residents see deploying MSS officers as a critical step toward restoring regional order. Still, many remain skeptical, given the multinational force and PNH’s limited logistical capacity and financial resources.
Due to the MSS’ existing challenges, the U.S. proposed transforming it into a UN mission to secure more stable funding and resources. Still, the plan was dropped after China and Russia threatened to veto a resolution, arguing that the MSS should be given more time to establish itself before any transformation into a UN operation is considered.
The deployment of Kenyan officers in Artibonite follows similar security measures implemented in other parts of Haiti. As part of the MSS mission, the officers are tasked with restoring stability in regions hardest hit by gang violence, providing much-needed support to the PNH, who have been stretched thin by the ongoing crisis.
In addition to Kenya, the MSS mission includes troops from Jamaica and Belize. Other Caribbean nations have pledged to contribute personnel, but their participation has been delayed due to the non-UN mission’s financial constraints.
El Salvador recently announced its commitment to join the mission, which the UN Security Council extended last week for one year. The broader goal is to contain the gangs and stabilize key urban centers, allowing the government to regain control of vital infrastructure, such as roads and ports.
El Salvador’s crime-fighting expertise comes after years of significant success in reducing gang violence at home under President Bukele’s administration. Once considered one of the most dangerous countries in the world, El Salvador has achieved a homicide rate of 2.4 per 100,000 inhabitants, making it the safest nation in Latin America, according to Radio France Internationale (RFI).
Despite the challenges, Exantus remains optimistic. “With the support of our international partners, we can bring peace back to the country, particularly Port-au-Prince and Artibonite,” he said.
“But it will take time and sustained effort to truly make a difference.”
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