Another Take: Can foreign intervention save Haiti from gang violence?

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on October 4, 2023. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed.

Since last year, Haiti’s government has been asking the international community for help to restore peace and security. This week, the United Nations Security Council approved sending an international police force led by Kenya to Haiti. Kenya signed on to send 1,000 police officers, with Washington pledging $100 million and logistical support. The Caribbean country has been gripped by spiraling gang violence as well as poverty and food insecurity. And if assistance does succeed in pushing back the gangs, there’s still a need to address Haiti’s lack of governance and political power vacuum. The last UN mission there lasted from 2004-2017 and faced accusations of rights abuses, sexual violence, and starting a cholera outbreak that killed more than 9,000 people; so, can this foreign intervention avoid repeating those mistakes?

In this episode: 

• Harold Isaac (@HaroldIsaac), journalist in Haiti

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Tamara Khandaker. The original production team was Miranda Lin, Sarí el-Khalili, Amy Walters, and host Kevin Hirten, in for Malika Bilal.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

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