Overview:
Haiti will ship 400 cops to Brazil subsequent month for coaching, because the nation battles gang violence and prepares for a U.N.-backed safety mission. Solely 10,000 police and 1,300 troopers presently defend almost 12 million Haitians.
By Evens Sanon | The Related Press
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s authorities mentioned Monday it plans to ship 400 cops to Brazil subsequent month for coaching as gang violence overwhelms the troubled Caribbean nation.
At the moment, Haiti solely has about 10,000 cops and 1,300 troopers defending a rustic of almost 12 million folks, mentioned Fritz Alphonse Jean, chief of the transitional presidential council.
A complete of 700 Haitian cops and troopers shall be skilled by overseas international locations in upcoming months and can then be a part of a Kenyan-led, U.N.-backed mission in its struggle in opposition to gangs.
“Haiti is weak, and we want particular coaching,” Jean mentioned throughout a uncommon press convention held for worldwide media.
Final week, 150 Haitian soldiers were deployed to Mexico for coaching as gangs that management as much as 90% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, encroach on extra territory.
From October 2024 to June 2025, greater than 4,800 folks throughout Haiti had been killed by gang violence. A whole bunch extra have been injured, kidnapped, raped and trafficked, in accordance with the United Nations.
Gang violence additionally has displaced more than 1.3 million people in recent times, with Jean noting that the federal government is attempting to make sure that Haitians are in a position to return residence quickly. The federal government has began distributing cash to a few of the tens of 1000’s of individuals crowded into faculties and makeshift shelters.
Jean is main a council tasked with organizing common elections by February 2026, however ongoing gang violence is threatening that deadline.
“We’re doing every thing potential so we will maintain elections,” he mentioned, declining to offer a date.
Haiti hasn’t held common elections in nearly a decade, with its final president, Jovenel Moïse, slain at his personal residence in July 2021. Gang violence has since surged within the aftermath of the slaying.