U.S. to send more heavy military equipment to Haiti as forces struggle to defeat armed gangs

The U.S. military will send additional equipment to Kenyan forces deployed in Haiti, as both they and their local counterparts continue to struggle in their fight against armed gangs controlling large swaths of the country.

Concretely, the U.S. Southern Command said it has started sending 24 additional armored vehicles and 34 Overhead Gunner Protection Kits, also known as "turrets" to help in their operations. The latter equipment will be installed by military contractors and should help troops' field view.

The equipment could provide a boost in the operation, which has faced numerous setbacks. So far, only 400 of the 2,500 pledged troops have arrived in Haiti to help local forces. Gangs have not been deterred, staging a new prison break in mid-August in a compound that housed around 500 inmates.

In March, gangs had raided the country's two largest prisons, resulting in the escape of over 4,000 detainees, including dangerous criminals and individuals involved in the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse.

Forces also suffered a recent defeat when they withdrew from the town of Ganthier, in the outskirts of Port-au-Prince. This resulted in the displacement of nearly 6,000 residents, taking the overall figure to almost 600,000.

Although there has been a slight decrease in killings and kidnappings in recent months, attacks by armed groups remain persistent. The U.N. reported that in the second quarter of 2024 alone, over 1,300 people were killed or injured, and 428 were kidnapped.

Locals protesting what they see as a lack of progress were recently met with tear gas. Protesters burned tires, saying authorities are not listening to their concerns, The Associated Press reported. "We're vulnerable to the bullets being fired day and night. Everyone is scared to walk outside because we'll be the next victims," protester Marclin Jean-Pierre told the outlet.

The political situation is not yielding much progress either. The country's newly-formed transitional council is being rocked by a corruption scandal after three of its nine members reportedly demanded over $750,000 from a member of a state-owned bank in exchange for allowing him to retain his position.

The allegations have sparked a significant political controversy, with concerns that they could undermine the U.S.-backed transition efforts aimed at stabilizing Haiti and preparing for its first presidential and parliamentary elections in nine years.

In this context, Prime Minister Garry Conille said the country is unlikely to meet the February 2026 deadline to hold the elections. Without urgent international support, he added, particularly for the security mission and humanitarian aid, it would be "extremely difficult" to have a new president sworn in by then.