Haiti PM turns to military to help fight gangs

Prime Minister Ariel Henry signaled Friday that he wants to mobilize Haiti’s military to help the National Police fight the country’s increasingly powerful gangs.

Henry said, during an appearance at the Haitian Armed Forces headquarters, he intends to mobilize all of the country’s security forces in the fight against gang violence. His comments come as Haiti and some UN officials continue to press the international community to deploy foreign troops to help quell the widespread violence.

Haiti’s military was disbanded in 1995 after it participated in multiple coups and was accused of other political interference. The Armed Forces were reinstated after the U.N ended its peacekeeping operations in Haiti. Since then, it has played a limited role, which includes providing protection to Haiti’s prime minister.