On September 30th, the UN Security Council unanimously voted to extend the mandate of its Kenyan-led multinational police force for another year. With a new expiry date of October 2nd, 2025, and the possible substitution by a UN peacekeeping force, the West’s brutal destabilization campaign inside Haiti will continue apace indefinitely. Just days earlier, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights estimated that at least 3,661 civilians, including 100 children, were killed amongst intense gang violence within the first six months of this year alone.
In light of the mandate’s extension, I conducted an interview with Samuel Emmanuel, a Haitian national and Port-au-Prince local in which we discussed the reality of Kenya’s security force, the history of western involvement in Haiti, and the future of the island’s independence. Samy, a bright and incredibly articulate young man, worked as a translator for Opportunities for Communities, a now defunct organization which focused on providing instructional courses and educational opportunities for Haitian students interested in learning about sustainable development. It was during my time with OFC that Samy and I were first introduced. His insights are honest, thoughtful and to the point.
Samy’s 11 month old son, Jason, is currently sick with a serious case of pneumonia. With little work and an inflation rate of nearly 30%, Samy has been unable to purchase the incredibly expensive food, safe drinking water, and medicine that Jason is in dire need of. I have started a GoFundme for the Emmanuels with the hope of assisting Samy and his family through these incredibly difficult times. Anything you can spare would be immensely appreciated.
(Samy Emmanuel Circa 2011)
What is the mood amongst Haitians in Port-au-Prince about the Kenyan led multinational police force? Is it seen as a solution toward ending the humanitarian crisis?
Haitians in general thought that the Kenyans were bringing a quick solution. They don't have enough strategies to fight the gangs. For me, there was no reason for Kenya to come to the country because the Haitian government can solve this crisis. They would be strengthening the national police with more materials to fight the gangs. In interviews, the leaders of the gangs always say that they are not afraid of the multinational force. The US government is involved in what is happening in the country. Haiti does not manufacture any weapons and where do all these illegal weapons come from? They could prevent them from entering the country. In conclusion, if the US government wanted to solve insecurity in the country, they would have sent marines instead of Kenyans.
The West has backed a series of disastrous interventions of Haiti in recent years, such as the operation to remove Aristide and the thirteen yearlong MINUSTAH mission. Is there a sense that this one will be any different?
MINUSTAH didn't do anything serious in the country, on the contrary, they hurt Haiti because they brought cholera and they sexually abused young women. Regarding Aristide, he was a president who thought for the people, but at the same time he spread many illegal weapons in popular neighborhoods.
None of these countries you mention have no decision to help Haiti out of this insecurity. I don't see why they refuse to bring a solution to this crisis because there are US, French and Canadian citizens who are suffering from the crisis and even lost their lives. Did you know that a few months ago bandits entered an orphanage and killed a couple of American missionaries and a Haitian director. Did you know they kidnapped a group of 17 missionaries together? It was 16 Americans and one Canadian. What is happening in Haiti is too small for the US government to handle.
By too small for the US government to handle, do you mean Washington simply doesn’t care to address the issue?
Exactly because they could solve the situation that Haiti is facing.
More than 80% of Port-au-Prince is now controlled by gangs. Have you noticed any decrease in violence or gang activity since the first contingent of Kenyan troops landed in late June?
I have not seen any decrease in violence, on the contrary, the gangs are more motivated since the Kenyans arrived in the country. Many areas of Port-au-Prince are still inaccessible and people fled their homes because bandits did lots of violence to them. There are Jamaican and Belizean soldiers who arrived in Haiti to reinforce the Kenyans. I think there may be more opportunities to destroy the gangs. Even if all the gang leaders would die, they have replacements. For me, only disarmament can restore peace in the country.
How is Jimmy Cherizier, the leader of Haiti’s G9 alliance, generally regarded? Is he seen as a terrorizing figure who perpetrates violence for his own self interest? or someone who represents the desires of Haitians against foreign involvement?
That’s a very interesting question because there are elements of both parts. Barbecue is a ruthless killer. He does not want foreign intervention in any type. Many Haitians do not want intervention. But studies showed that 69%. want someone to come in and help.
He says he represents the desires of the Haitian people. But why do his gangs burn down neighborhoods? Attack government buildings? Attack hospitals and make them unusable? Those are not the desires of the people. To me, Barbecue is a terrorizing figure. He does not want an intervention because he will lose. But someone in Haiti has to represent Haitians. And what they want and not meddle in the affairs of Haiti.
People from North America do not understand Haiti. It is a very complex country with a very complex set of situations. Bill Clinton came in and screwed up the economy. He wanted to do good deeds, but he screwed it up big-time. That’s because he did not understand the agricultural economy in Haiti and what the external factors and consequences of his act would cause.
Certain conflicts, such as those in Ukraine and Gaza, garner widespread attention from the mainstream media, while others, like the situation in Haiti, receive so little. Why do you think crises like these are widely ignored by the press?
There are geopolitical reasons and financial and ally reasons. Russia is an “enemy” of the USA so the US does not want Russia to gain more traction. Haiti on the other hand, has little to do with communism, economic benefit to the U.S. and also, racism. Since Donald Trump, people are much more bold about racism. They don’t care if other people know they are racist! It’s really awful. One time Joe Biden said “If Haiti sank into the sea, no one would notice.” What an awful thing to say.
Finally, what do you see as the biggest misconception of Haiti amongst western audiences?
The things that I see as the biggest misconception of Haiti are that we got ourselves in the position that we are when the truth is it’s a combination of things including having a corrupted government and a conspiracy between many countries and oligarchs to destabilize Haiti.
We need protection from all the people who have been committed to destroying our country. They purposely put the gangs on a mission to destroy the people there as a way to have access to our natural resources. That’s the bottom line.