Haiti Protests Erupt as Kenyan Police Exit Multinational Security Mission
Kenyan officers under the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) arrive from Haiti on March 17, 2026. Photo/Courtesy
By Ruth Sang
Civilians in Haiti have staged protests against the withdrawal of Kenyan police officers serving under the Multinational Security Support Mission, highlighting growing concerns over security in the gang-hit nation.
According to reports, demonstrators blocked key routes in areas including St. Marks and Pont Sonde in an attempt to stop the departure of the officers, who have been part of efforts to restore stability. Video footage circulating online showed protesters barricading roads, forcing authorities to deploy helicopters to evacuate the officers from Petite Rivière and surrounding areas.
The final contingent of Kenyan police officers is expected to return home in the coming days, marking the end of Kenya’s role in the MSS mission.
The withdrawal paves the way for the deployment of the Gang Suppression Force, a new security initiative approved by the United Nations Security Council in October 2025 to tackle escalating gang violence in the country.
The incoming force will be led by troops from Chad, with the first batch of Chadian police already arriving in Haiti earlier this month to support the transition.
Leadership of the mission will also change hands, with Jack Christofides, a South African United Nations official with extensive experience in peacekeeping operations, set to take over as Special Representative of the GSF. He replaces Godfrey Otunge, who led the Kenyan contingent under the MSS framework.
The protests underscore uncertainty among sections of the Haitian population, some of whom appear to view the Kenyan forces as a stabilising presence amid ongoing insecurity.
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