In a decisive effort to strengthen national security and combat gang-related violence, Haiti’s Prime Minister Didier Fils-Aimé led a formal send-off ceremony
on July 24 for 150 Haitian soldiers — including 15 women — heading to Mexico for a three-month specialized training program.
The ceremony, held in the presence of Transitional Presidential Council President Fritz Alphonse Jean, Councilor Leslie Voltaire, the Minister of Defense, and other top officials, highlighted the government’s renewed focus on rebuilding Haiti’s armed forces. The soldiers were transported via three Mexican Air Force C-295 aircraft and are set to undergo intensive training in areas such as drone operations, guerrilla warfare, sniper tactics, and demolition.
This deployment is part of a larger initiative to train 700 Haitian soldiers who will later integrate with the Haitian National Police and support the UN-backed Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission. Led by Kenyan police forces, the MSS aims to restore order in a nation where over 80% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, is currently under gang control.
“This departure is a historic milestone in the reconstruction of the Haitian Armed Forces,” said Prime Minister Fils-Aimé. “We are committed to restoring the authority of the state and protecting our citizens.”
The training in Mexico continues a long-standing military cooperation between the two nations. Since 2018, Mexico has trained 570 Haitian soldiers, including Haiti’s first-ever special forces units in 2022 and 2023.
Haiti’s security crisis has deepened since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, with gangs increasingly dominating vital territories and institutions. While over 500 international personnel — including troops from Kenya, Jamaica, and Guatemala — have joined the MSS mission, the operation has been hampered by funding shortfalls and an evolving mandate.
As the country looks ahead to organizing elections and rebuilding its institutions, this lates
t military training effort represents a significant step toward reclaiming national security and restoring sovereignty.
