The Multinational Security Support mission (MSS) and the Haitian National Police(PNH) have jointly denied social media reports about a rift between the two forces during the operations aimed to fight against armed gangs in Haiti.
In a statement on Monday, the two entities reaffirmed their commitment to the course as all police operations are planned and executed in unison. The MSS, as mandated by United Nations member states, provides critical support to the PNH in the ongoing fight against gangs across the country.
The forces also addressed rumors suggesting that Kenyan police officers, serving as part of the MSS , had accused their Haitian counterparts of colluding with the said gangs.
“This misinformation seeks to discredit the commendable work being done by the joint forces to combat criminal gangs,” the statement read. “We urge the local population to avoid being misled by such manipulative narratives.”
However, the mission faces an additional challenge as reports emerge of Kenyan police officers resigning due to delays or lack of payment.
Last week, officers in the mission told Reuters that nearly 20 of the 400 Kenyan police officers serving in the force have submitted letters of resignation from the mission over the past two months because of pay delays and poor conditions.
The sources said the officers have received no response to their letters and continue to serve on the MSS.
MSS would later dismiss the report as ‘inaccurate and malicious’.
MSS Force Commander Godfrey Otunge said all the officers on the mission have been paid their salaries and allowances, hence none of them has downed their gun just yet.
