Guatemalan Troops Deployed to Haiti to Tackle Gang Violence

A contingent of 150 Guatemalan soldiers has been deployed to Haiti as part of an international effort to restore order in the Caribbean nation plagued by violent gangs.

The first group of 75 soldiers, drawn from Guatemala’s military police, arrived on Friday, followed by another 75 on Saturday. They join a United Nations-backed security mission led by Kenya, which has faced challenges in curbing escalating violence.

Haiti has been under a state of emergency for months, as armed gangs have seized control of large portions of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Earlier this year, gangs stormed Haiti’s two largest prisons, freeing approximately 3,700 inmates and intensifying the crisis.

Kenya dispatched nearly 400 police officers in mid-2024 as the first wave of a UN-approved force expected to include 2,500 officers from multiple countries. Small contingents from Jamaica, Belize, and El Salvador have also joined the mission, with the United States serving as its primary financial backer.

Two Belize Defence Force (BDF) officers have already been deployed to Port-au-Prince, serving as part of the CARICOM Joint Task Force led by Jamaica. This initial deployment is laying the groundwork for a larger team of BDF personnel, though the exact timeline for their arrival remains uncertain.

Belize’s participation hinges on the procurement of necessary equipment and favourable conditions for the mission.

“When we are fully equipped and prepared, I will signal the Ministry of National Defence, and the minister will inform Cabinet that we are ready to deploy,” said Commander of the BDF, Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria.