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Soldiers

Haiti Sends 150 Soldiers to Train in Mexico Amid Gang Violence

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Haiti, grappling with rampant gang violence and a near-record level of homicide rates, has sent 150 soldiers to train in Mexico as part of a broader roadmap to restore security and revitalize public institutions. The troops arrived in Mexico on Thursday and will spend the next three months on a training course, with a total of 700 Haitian soldiers ultimately participating in the program. The initiative, part of the Haitian government's efforts to restore order and protect citizens, marks the Caribbean country's latest attempt to seek international help to address the crisis.

Key Takeaways:

  • Haiti has sent 150 soldiers to train in Mexico as part of a program aimed at restoring security and revitalizing public institutions.
  • A total of 700 Haitian soldiers will participate in the program, which will last three months.
  • The training program is part of Haiti's broader roadmap to address gang violence and restore order throughout the country.
  • Mexico's security forces, which have extensive experience battling international drug cartels, will train the Haitian troops.
  • The training program is the latest attempt by Haiti to seek international help to address its security crisis, which has seen thousands dead and wounded in recent years.
  • The UN estimates that at least 80% of Port-au-Prince is under gang control, with nearly 1.3 million people internally displaced due to the violence.

Statistics:

  • 150 Haitian soldiers have departed Port-au-Prince to train in Mexico.
  • The training program will last three months.
  • 700 Haitian soldiers will ultimately participate in the program.
  • At least 80% of Port-au-Prince is under gang control.
  • Nearly 1.3 million people are internally displaced due to the violence.
  • The UN estimates that gangs have spread into rural areas, seizing swaths of territory in the Artibonite region.
  • Armed attacks in the area have uprooted an additional 15,000 people.

Sources:

  • CNN
  • Haitian government statement
  • UN report
  • CNN (quote from Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé)
  • Mexican government (CNN reached out for more information on the training program)

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