Another Haitian police officer killed in gang crackdown

PORT-AU-PRINCE — Wisly Villefranche, a first-grade officer from the 28th cohort of the Haitian National Police (PNH), was killed Thursday during an operation against armed gangs in Port-au-Prince. Villefranche is the third officer to be killed by gunfire in the capital in less than a month, bringing the total number of police fatalities in Haiti to 23 by 2024. The deaths come as the PNH, supported by the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, conducts operations to reclaim areas controlled by criminal gangs.

Agent Villefranche was assigned to the Intervention Brigade (BI) unit at the National Palace in Champs-de-Mars. He was shot in the head and died at the scene. His body was later recovered by fellow agents.

According to local media, the police intervention followed an emergency call from residents about heavily armed people entering the area, causing panic that extended to Champs-de-Mars.

SPNH-17 calls on the government to support the victim’s family

Once again, the Haitian National Police Union (SPNH-17) expressed its dismay over the continued loss of officers to gang violence, highlighting Villefranche’s bravery in defending Port-au-Prince residents from more than 150 armed assailants. In a post on X, the union offered its condolences to the victim’s family and colleagues while demanding justice and reparations.

SPNH-17 paid tribute to Villefranche’s courage, declaring: “It is with honor that we say goodbye, comrade. The SPNH calls on the state to support your family.”

Recent fatalities among police officers include James Dorsainvil and Médjine Nathanielle Michel, who were killed on August 15 and 28, respectively. Dorsainvil was killed during an attack in Solino by gangs from Bel-Air. Michel was killed in Delmas 75, in the northeastern suburb of Port-au-Prince, when her vehicle was attacked on her way to work. Her sister and brother-in-law have been arrested in connection with her murder.

Haitian police and infrastructure have increasingly become targets for gangs, making it difficult to find operational police stations in gang-controlled areas. Recently, the 400 Mawozo gang set fire to the Ganthier police station, following similar attacks on stations in Carrefour, Gressier, Archaie and Cabaret by other gangs.

Despite several joint interventions by the PNH anti-gang units and Kenyan police, these armed groups continue to carry out attacks on law enforcement officials.

Agent killed during US Secretary of State visit

Villefranche’s death coincided with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Haiti, where he met with local authorities amid widespread gang violence, particularly in 80 percent of Port-au-Prince and a significant portion of Artibonite department. Blinken reaffirmed U.S. commitment to supporting the restoration of security in the country and announced an additional $45 million in humanitarian assistance.

Blinken acknowledged the challenges facing the MSS mission and discussed the possibility of transforming it into a United Nations mission to garner more international support, setting the stage for long-term success. The U.S. has already contributed more than $300 million to the mission, including equipment and infrastructure support. However, it has not received sufficient financial support from other U.N. member states to make it fully operational, beyond the deployment of 400 Kenyan police officers.

Edgar Gardy Leblanc Fils, chairman of the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT), is in favor of transforming the Kenyan mission into a UN mission. He cites funding issues as an obstacle to deploying additional personnel from Kenya and other countries.

“If the nature of the mission were to change, it would ensure mandatory UN funding,” Leblanc said. “However, the mission must have a time limit to dismantle gangs and quickly transfer responsibilities to Haiti’s national security forces.”

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