The deployment of Kenya's first police officers to Haiti to lead an international force to combat gangs has been delayed, two sources briefed on the matter told Reuters.
This happens after a flight that would take the agents was postponed on Tuesday (21).
United States authorities had previously indicated that troops would be in Port-au-Prince this Thursday (23), coinciding with the visit of Kenyan President William Ruto to the White House.
At a joint press conference with US President Joe Biden, Ruto reiterated Kenya's commitment to sending police officers to Haiti.
Kenya volunteered to lead the mission in July last year, but there were several delays in deploying agents due to actions by opponents and a wave of violence in Haiti in March, which caused the Haitian Prime Minister resign.
The mission, which will include up to 2,500 people, aims to combat gangs that control most of Port-au-Prince and have committed widespread murders, kidnappings and sexual violence.
Kenya has committed to sending 1,000 police officers to the UN-approved mission. The majority of the operation is financed by the United States.
“Kenya believes that the responsibility for peace and security anywhere in the world, including Haiti, is the responsibility of all nations,” said Ruto at the press conference with Biden.
Two hundred Kenyan officers assigned to the mission were told they would depart Nairobi on Tuesday night, according to the two sources, speaking on condition of anonymity discussing sensitive information.
One of the people interviewed in the report is a former police officer who is in contact with members of the mission. She pointed out that the agents did not receive any explanation for the last-minute delay and were instructed to remain on standby.
The other source, informed by a government official, highlighted that there were no conditions in Port-au-Prince to receive the officers.
A Kenyan government spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Source: CNN Brasil
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