The newly installed government in Haiti has replaced the head of the national police force in response to increasing gang violence in the country. Frantz Elbe has been replaced by former chief Rameau Normil, as Prime Minister Garry Conille faces pressure to strengthen the underfunded and ill-equipped Haitian National Police. Elbe’s time as police chief was described as catastrophic, with accusations that he established relationships with gangs and prevented police officers from doing their jobs effectively. Police unions in Haiti have also called for Elbe’s resignation and arrest due to a series of attacks on police stations by armed gangs.
The police unions have criticized the state of the department under Elbe and have called on the government to bolster the police force. Meanwhile, Haiti has been waiting for the deployment of a Kenya-led, UN-backed multinational security force composed of 1,000 Kenyan officers and personnel from other Caribbean countries. Normil previously headed the national police and had overseen the detective division. The effective date of his replacement was not immediately clear.
Haiti’s police force has been struggling with a lack of resources while combating criminal groups armed with high-caliber weapons trafficked from the US. The police force has just over 13,200 personnel, with only about 4,000 officers on duty at any given time in a country of 11 million. The police force has suffered from a lack of training, equipment shortages, late pay, and workplace harassment. Despite these challenges, the new Conille-led government has promised to bring about change and improve conditions for all Haitians.
Conille has emphasized the importance of security in achieving sustainable progress in Haiti and has committed to providing the police and soldiers with the tools they need to carry out their mission effectively. The Citizens’ Protection Office has called on Normil to produce a plan to control the gangs and improve the police force without delay. There have also been calls for explanations regarding the high rate of killings and the recent escape of about 4,500 prisoners under the previous authorities’ indifference.
Gang violence in Haiti has led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people, with thousands killed and millions facing acute hunger amid the unrest. The country continues to face significant challenges related to violence and instability, with the new government working to address these issues and improve security for its citizens. The replacement of the police chief is just one step in the government’s efforts to combat gang violence and improve the effectiveness of law enforcement in Haiti.
