U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Haiti to support the fight against gangs and advocate for general elections. 400 Kenyan police were deployed to lead a U.N. mission to combat gang violence in Haiti, but concerns about funding and equipment arose. The U.S. government is considering a U.N. peacekeeping operation to secure resources to tackle the gangs that dominate Haiti’s capital.

Blinken met with Haitian officials and planned to discuss progress in security and the establishment of a provisional electoral council to move toward elections. Haiti has been plagued by political unrest and gang violence since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021. The situation escalated as gangs carried out attacks on police stations and prisons.

Despite some improvement after the arrival of Kenyan police in June, gang violence persists in Haiti. Blinken will also visit the Dominican Republic to discuss economic ties and regional security. The focus will be on strengthening relationships and promoting respect for human rights in the region.