Burundi has expressed its willingness to contribute to the restoration of security in Haiti by sending a peacekeeping contingent. The announcement came from the Burundi Ministry of Foreign Affairs on social platform X, following a meeting between Foreign Minister Albert Shingiro and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
This offer comes as Kenya has already deployed 400 police officers to help quell violence in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, with plans to send an additional 600. Other nations, including Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, and Jamaica, have also indicated their willingness to contribute to a multinational support mission.
Haiti's security and humanitarian situation has worsened significantly since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021 and a devastating earthquake. Gangs control over 80% of Port-au-Prince. In the past year, around 8,000 people have been killed in gang violence.
On September 5, the Haitian government declared a state of emergency across the country to combat armed gangs. The measure, according to the official government newspaper Le Moniteur, will be in effect for at least one month.
A transitional presidential council has been established to govern Haiti until elections can be held.