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HTI | May 14, 2025

DomRep, Kenya sign agreement supporting Haiti security mission

/ Our Today

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The agreement formalises medical evacuation and repatriation aid for Kenyan police 

FILE PHOTO: Kenyan police officers disembark from a plane while arriving as part of a peace-keeping mission to tackle violence in Haiti, at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti January 18, 2025. REUTERS/Ralph Tedy Erol/File Photo

Dominican Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez and Kenya’s First Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Secretary Musalia Mudavadi signed an agreement Monday bolstering support for Kenyan police participating in a UN-backed multinational security mission in Haiti.

The move came during a meeting between Alvarez and Mudavadi to discuss the security situation in the neighbouring country. The agreement establishes a Memorandum of Understanding covering medical evacuation and repatriation for wounded or deceased personnel. 

Officials confirmed at a press conference that 20 members of the mission have already received treatment in the Dominican Republic. More than 600 Kenyan police officers have been deployed to help address insecurity in Haiti under the multinational mission, which is now in its second year of operation.

The mission faces significant security risks, as armed gangs continue to exert control and cause violence in major cities, including the capital, Port-au-Prince. While initially planned to comprise 2,500 personnel, the mission has struggled to secure troop contributions from other participating nations. 

It has yet to achieve significant results against the widespread insecurity, with armed gangs controlling an estimated 85% of the capital and stifling daily life through violence. Violence in the first three months of 2025 resulted in 1,617 deaths and 580 injuries.

FILE PHOTO: People walk past remains of vehicles near the presidential palace, after they were set on fire by gangs, as violence spreads and armed gangs expand their control over the capital, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti March 25, 2024. REUTERS/Ralph Tedy Erol/File Photo

Mudavadi’s visit reinforces Kenya’s leading role in efforts to stabilize Haiti and aligns with the Dominican Republic’s strategy to build international support to end the crisis. He arrived in the Dominican Republic following a high-level visit to the United States, where he met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, DC. 

Alvarez commented, “We sincerely value the sacrifice that the people and government of Kenya have assumed in leading this effort. Their determination and courage resonate with our national awareness because Haiti’s stability directly impacts our national security.”

In his response, Mudavadi remarked, “Your support has been invaluable, enabling us to evacuate our personnel when they require medical attention and other critical assistance. This mission requires significant cooperation, particularly in sharing intelligence and critical information, and (the Dominican Republic) has provided invaluable support.” 

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