Guatemalan Troops Deployed to Haiti Amid Escalating Gang Violence

A contingent of Guatemalan soldiers has arrived in Haiti to assist in the struggle against armed gangs that destabilize the country.

A substantial deployment of 150 Guatemalan soldiers has landed in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, with the objective of restoring much-needed order as violent gangs continue to wreak havoc across the nation. The first batch of 75 military personnel arrived on Friday, followed by another 75 on Saturday, as stated by Guatemala's government authorities. The deployment comes as Haiti remains under a state of emergency, a measure that has been in force for months due to the alarming rise in gang-related violence.

This mission is part of a broader United Nations-backed initiative led by Kenya, which has sent nearly 400 police officers since mid-2022. Despite these efforts, violence in Haiti has not abated, prompting the assistance of additional international forces. The current UN-sanctioned operation aims to recruit a total of 2,500 officers from various nations, which also includes contributions from Jamaica, Belize, and El Salvador, with the United States being the primary financial supporter of the mission.

The situation in Haiti has deteriorated significantly, especially since the violent storming of the country’s largest prisons in March 2024, which resulted in the escape of approximately 3,700 inmates. The ongoing unrest began to escalate further in March when a state of emergency was declared in the Ouest Department that encompasses Port-au-Prince, following an increase in violent incidents.

Haiti's struggles are deeply rooted in a history of instability, political turmoil, and natural disasters, making it the poorest nation in the Americas today. The assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021 catalyzed a decline into economic chaos and a power vacuum that has allowed gang warfare to flourish. As the international community intensifies its efforts to bring peace, Haiti continues to grapple with the dire consequences of prolonged violence and insecurity.