The deployment follows an expanded mandate approved in early October and signals Nairobi’s growing commitment to Haiti’s stabilization. Kenya now fields more than 700 officers in Haiti, making it the mission’s largest contributor.

New Contingent Arrives in Haiti

The 230-member unit landed at Toussaint Louverture International Airport on Monday evening aboard a Kenya Airways flight. Officials said the contingent consists of specialized police teams tasked with reinforcing operations in gang-affected zones.

Commanders emphasized that the rotation forms part of a multi-phase deployment planned for the coming weeks.

Expanded Mandate Shapes Operations

Kenyan officials said the deployment follows the widened mandate issued on 3 October 2025, which broadened the mission’s authority. The new troops will support efforts to reopen key routes, secure humanitarian corridors and strengthen initiatives led by the Haitian National Police.

Commanders stated that the transition from the earlier Multinational Security Support mission to the Gang Suppression Force has produced a more coordinated structure.

Rotations Modify Force Composition

More than 100 officers from earlier Kenyan contingents are rotating home after completing their tour. Kenya’s first deployment in June 2024 involved 400 officers, followed by a second group of 200 personnel drawn from elite units.

Officials said subsequent rotations have improved interoperability with Haitian partners across the West and Artibonite regions.

Mission Aims to Stabilize Haiti

Commanders noted that the force is focused on reclaiming gang-dominated neighborhoods, supporting civilian protection and creating conditions for eventual national elections.

Haitian authorities described the reinforcement as timely amid ongoing violence and disrupted essential services. Kenyan leaders reiterated that support will continue “as long as it takes” until stability is restored.

The accord reaffirms commitments first outlined in June 2025, including security de-escalation and coordinated economic development. Washington describes the agreement as the result of “months of intensive diplomacy,” linking regional stability to better access to critical minerals.

Leaders Sign Peace And Integration Framework

Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame endorsed both the peace accord and a Regional Economic Integration Framework negotiated in November.

The pact includes provisions for security cooperation, mineral-sector alignment and cross-border economic planning. U.S. officials said additional agreements on critical minerals and security partnerships were also concluded.

Conflict Continues As Ceremony Proceeds

During the signing, heavy clashes were reported in South Kivu, where M23 rebels and the Congolese army exchanged fire.

Rebel representatives accused government forces of bombing civilian areas, while Congolese officials called the fighting “proof that Rwanda doesn’t want peace.”

The rebel group—backed by Rwanda according to UN experts—is not party to the agreement and is not bound by its terms.

Washington’s Strategic Objectives

U.S. officials emphasized that stability in eastern Congo is essential for securing supply chains of tantalum, tin, tungsten, gold, cobalt, copper and lithium. Washington is preparing to facilitate billions of dollars in future investment and sign bilateral resource-purchase deals with both countries.

“There’s tremendous wealth in that beautiful earth,” the U.S. president said, adding that American companies will participate directly in extraction agreements.

Sovereignty And Mineral Control Assurances

Tshisekedi’s spokesperson stressed that Congo “retains full sovereignty” over its territory and minerals, rejecting claims that the deal amounted to a sell-off.

She said the agreement provides a “historic opportunity” to end decades of conflict and revive local economies in the east, where violence has killed thousands and displaced millions.

Regional And Political Reactions

Analysts cautioned that the agreement alone cannot end the conflict, noting that “it isn’t two signatures and suddenly the fighting will stop.”

Some Congolese civil society voices criticized the lack of domestic consultation, arguing that the deal bypasses parliament and does not address massacres such as the killing of 3,000 people in Goma earlier this year.

Rwanda expressed “cautious optimism,” saying the pact offers the best chance for long-term stability.

The minister, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, stepped down with immediate effect, citing health reasons.

His exit follows President Bola Tinubu’s decision to declare a nationwide security emergency days after a wave of coordinated abductions across multiple states.

Mass Kidnappings Trigger Leadership Crisis

More than 300 students and staff were abducted from St. Mary’s School on 21 November, with roughly 50 managing to escape.

In total, almost 400 people were seized in late November, including schoolchildren, clergy, farmers and wedding groups. The surge forced the president to cancel planned trips to major international summits.

Emergency Measures And Recruitment Drive

Tinubu last week authorized the recruitment of “thousands” of additional security personnel to strengthen overstretched forces.

Officials say the emergency framework will include operational surges across high-risk regions and accelerated police deployments, though full details are expected later.

External Pressure Intensifies

The president is facing criticism at home and abroad, including accusations from Washington alleging failures to protect Christian communities—a claim Abuja rejects.

Analysts warn that external pressure may complicate domestic counter-kidnapping operations as the government tries to reassure the public and international partners.

Longstanding Conflict Dynamics

Nigeria has struggled with mass abductions since Boko Haram kidnapped nearly 300 girls from Chibok in 2014. Criminal gangs, insurgent groups and opportunistic networks continue to exploit weak rural security, creating overlapping threats that stretch state capacities.

Tinubu’s upcoming security blueprint aims to realign federal, state and local responses under a unified command structure.