Joint Haiti-Kenyan police team kills 20 gangsters, injures head of gang

At least 20 Haitian gang members were on Sunday and Monday fatally shot during a security operation carried out by the Haitian police jointly with Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) officers.

The operation took place in Torcel, a town 14 kilometres from Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. Torcel is known to be the stronghold of "Kraze baryè", one of the most persistent gangs in Haiti.

The operation was aimed at tracking down armed gangs throughout the country and dismantling the Kraze baryè gang. During the operation, the officers shot and killed at least 20 gang members.

During the showdown, the peacekeepers also brutally injured the second leader of the Kraze baryè gang, Deshomme. The operation resulted in the seizure of firearms, ammunition, mobile phones, sensitive materials and equipment.

"Our brave police officers have been carrying out incursions into strategic areas used for some time by criminals to commit their crimes. In the context of the fight against armed gangs throughout the national territory, the Haitian National Police continues its operations and interventions in several areas of the country," read part of the statement from the Haitian National Police (HNP).

However, despite the defeat of the gangs, an armoured vehicle carrying the Kenyan officers suffered engine failure and could not be restarted despite the intervention of technicians on the scene.

"The PNH remains mobilised to continue these operations in order to neutralise the leader of the gang and terrorist, Vitelhomme Innocent, and his followers," the Haitian police statement said.

The developments come against the backdrop of Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille's visit to Kenya. During his visit, Conille praised the Kenyan police for their immense efforts in restoring calm to the Caribbean nation.

Addressing the press alongside President William Ruto at State House in Nairobi, the two leaders called on the international community to do more to help restore peace in Haiti.

"Kenya and Haiti therefore stand united in calling on the international community to urgently rally behind this mission. The decision by the United Nations Security Council to extend the mandate of the MSS for another year signals strong global support," said Dr Ruto.

"Words and pledges must be matched by concrete actions. We therefore urge our global partners to accelerate their contributions to the human, logistical and financial resources needed to sustain and expand the mission," he added.

Conille's visit to Kenya also follows recent gang violence in which up to seventy Haitians were killed after gang members resorted to shooting locals in central Haiti.