The Kenya Police Service has transferred control of its third Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Haiti to Guatemalan forces.
This handover marks another milestone in the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission’s efforts to restore security in the troubled Caribbean nation.
The base, housed at the Regional Office of the Far North for the General Inspectorate of the National Police of Haiti (IGPNH), was established by MSS on November 28, 2024, after being abandoned due to frequent gang attacks.
Since then, it has undergone extensive renovations.
“This building is a very important building in Haiti because it is the headquarters of IGPNH, so you can equate it to Vigilance House or Jogoo House in Kenya,” Chief Inspector Nixon Onsarigo of the Kenya Police explained in a video shared by President William Ruto on his X account on January 22, 2025.
He noted that when Kenyan forces first arrived, they faced significant challenges, including securing the area for renovation work.
Haiti’s success
MSS Commander Godfrey Otunge described the successful handover of the base as a significant achievement for the mission.
“The IGPNH was a no-go zone. In fact, when we captured it, the citizens through social media were saying, ‘How can it happen, what kind of force is that that can dare to go to IGPNH?” he said.
Speaking on the strategic importance of the facility, Captain Claudio Quiroz of the Belize Military emphasized that its role extends beyond its immediate vicinity.
“This facility offers the MSS strategic importance in terms of the ability to project its security mechanisms further into the Delmas community and down into town over the port area and even further than that,” Claudio said.
According to Captain Quiroz, the base plays a crucial role in combating gang-led smuggling of weapons and narcotics along the porous coastline, while also enhancing law enforcement response times in key areas, including the National Port and the Delmas district.
These areas have been notorious hotspots for criminal activities that have fueled violence in the region.
Ruto’s message
In a social media post on January 22, 2025, Kenyan President William Ruto acknowledged this achievement and congratulated the National Police Service.
“National Police Service officers under the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission in Haiti hands over the Third Forwarded Operating Base to Guatemala troops who are part of the peace mission. Hongera!” he wrote.
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