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The Significance of Civilian, Police and Military Interaction

  • andy35068
  • Oct 22, 2024
  • 2 min read

Insights from the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission in Haiti


On 25 June 2024, a first contingent of a few hundred Kenyan police landed in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince. Kenyan officials have stated that the police officers dispatched are from units with a track record of battling al-Shabab militants along the Kenya-Somalia border and are well-versed in engaging in intense combat situations.


The Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti offers various case studies for examining the dynamics and challenges of civilian, police, and military interaction within a multinational and humanitarian crisis setting. CPM-I consultants have identified significant opportunities for an in-depth analysis on the effectiveness of the MSS in the context of Civil-Police-Military interaction. At this juncture, we aim to present some four (preliminary) considerations regarding the potential obstacles, which are also prevalent in other missions and warrant further investigation:

  • Language barriers may turn out to be a challenge, as most Kenyan troops do not speak French or Haitian Kreyol. The reliance on interpreters in interactions with local authorities and the population may affect the protection of civilians in critical and combat situations.

  • Haitian authorities seem to have had minimal involvement in the mission's planning, which may not foster the best environment for building trust with local civilian leadership and authorities.

  • Some humanitarian organizations have raised concerns that they have not been included in discussions about possible implications for their humanitarian aid operations and potential risks to civilians. They are worried that the presence of soldiers and police outside their offices and distribution centers could jeopardize their safety and operations. 

  • Up to half of all gang affiliates in Haiti are minors, highlighting the urgent need to protect young individuals from exposure to violence and incarceration. Child protection organizations are cautioning against the potential rise in child fatalities. 



 
 
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