A Kenyan police officer deployed under the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) has gone missing following an ambush by armed gangs in Haiti’s capital.
According to an MSS statement, the officer disappeared on Tuesday, March 25, after a patrol vehicle got stuck in a ditch in the Pont-Sonde Area. A search operation has been launched to determine his whereabouts.
The incident occurred when a Haitian National Police (HNP) armored vehicle got trapped in a suspected gang-dug ditch. MSS forces dispatched two Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles to assist, but one also got stuck while the other developed mechanical issues. As officers attempted to resolve the situation, armed gangs launched a surprise attack.
A fierce gunfight ensued, and while MSS forces repelled the assailants, one Kenyan officer was reported missing. Officials believe several gang members were injured, with some fatalities recorded.
This attack comes a week after a senior Kenyan officer was shot in the head in the same area and remains in critical condition. In February, Constable Samuel Tompoi Kaetuai was killed during another operation.
Kenya leads the MSS mission, tasked with restoring order in Haiti. However, rising gang violence poses a growing threat to deployed officers. Efforts to locate the missing officer continue, as concerns mount over the safety of Kenyan peacekeepers in Haiti.
