A joint operation between the Kenyan lead multinational force in Haiti and the Haitian National Police force went south on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in Petite-Rivière, Artibonite, leading to the killing of a Kenyan officer while in action and the burning of three armored vehicles by gunmen.
The attack is attributed to Savien’s gang, responsible for the death of another Kenyan police officer in February.
Since the beginning of 2025, nearly a dozen law enforcement armored vehicles have been destroyed by criminal gangs.
The increase in attacks is challenging Haitian authorities and international forces deployed on the ground.
”As a result of the incident, one MSS Kenyan contingent officer remains unaccounted for. Specialized teams have been deployed to conduct a search and determine his whereabouts,” the MSS spokesperson confirmed the incident.
Officials believe several gang members were also injured in the confrontation, with some reported fatalities, though authorities have not provided specific details on casualties. Efforts to secure the area and locate the missing officer are ongoing.
The latest incident underscores the growing security risks facing the Kenyan-led MSS mission in Haiti. On March 18, a senior Kenyan police officer was shot in the head during an operation in the same area and remains in critical condition.
