• Chad plans to deploy 800 police and gendarmes to Haiti by June
• Move comes as Kenyan forces begin scaling down their presence
• Haiti’s security crisis continues to worsen, with gangs expanding control

Chad plans to send 800 police officers and gendarmes to Haiti to support an international mission helping local authorities combat armed gangs, Reuters reported on March 20, citing a senior Chadian police official.

The officers are expected to arrive in June after completing training led by European and U.S. partners. Authorities have released few additional details about the deployment.

The announcement comes as the multinational security support mission in Haiti enters a transition phase. On March 17, 215 Kenyan police officers—part of the mission’s second contingent—returned home. Kenya’s Interior Ministry said the operation is now moving toward a gradual drawdown, with more officers set to leave in the coming months.

Those Kenyan forces had been deployed in 2023 to help stabilize the country and support Haiti’s national police in restoring order in areas affected by insecurity.

The planned deployment also reflects the worsening situation in Haiti. Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, the country has faced deepening instability. Political leadership remains fragile, state institutions have weakened, and armed gangs now control large parts of the territory.

According to the United Nations, more than one million people have been displaced, while 5.7 million face acute food insecurity.

At the same time, Chad faces its own security challenges. The country has been dealing with rising violence linked to regional conflicts, particularly along its border with Sudan. On March 18, authorities reported a drone attack that killed at least 17 civilians and injured several others.

Chad also closed its border with Sudan in February 2026, citing repeated incursions and violations by armed groups involved in the Sudan conflict.

Lydie Mobio