Haitian soldiers attend a closing ceremony at the end of their military training provided by the Mexican Army, in San Miguel de los Jagueyes, Mexico, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Haitian soldiers perform during a closing ceremony at the end of their military training provided by the Mexican Army, in San Miguel de los Jagueyes, Mexico, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Haitian soldiers perform during a closing ceremony marking their military training provided by the Mexican Army, in San Miguel de los Jagueyes, Mexico, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Mexican army trains 143 Haitian soldiers as the Caribbean nation ramps up fight against gangs
SAN MIGUEL DE LOS JAG脺EYES, M茅xico (AP) 鈥 A group of 143 Haitian soldiers on Friday finished military training by the Mexican army as part of a bilateral agreement as Haiti looks to revive its armed forces amid escalating violence in the Caribbean nation, where gangs have taken control of most of its capital.
Haitian soldiers attend a closing ceremony at the end of their military training provided by the Mexican Army, in San Miguel de los Jagueyes, Mexico, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
SAN MIGUEL DE LOS JAG脺EYES, M茅xico (AP) 鈥 A group of 143 Haitian soldiers on Friday finished military training by the Mexican army as part of a bilateral agreement as Haiti looks to revive its armed forces amid escalating violence in the Caribbean nation, where gangs have taken control of most of its capital.
For eight weeks, 15 women and 128 men were part of a basic military training where they practiced personal defense and shooting and learned about human rights. Now they are heading to their country.
鈥淪tarting today, you return to your nation with military knowledge and physical and spiritual strength to loyally serve your people and your democratically elected authority,鈥 said lieutenant colonel Juan Manuel Campos Rodr铆guez, director of the army’s training center, at a closing ceremony in a military camp in the state of Mexico, north of Mexico’s capital.
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A group of 143 Haitian soldiers on Friday finished a military training session by the Mexican army as part of a bilateral agreement as Haiti is looking to revive its armed forces amid the escalating violence in the Caribbean nation. (Sept. 19, 2025)
AP Video: Fernanda Pesce
The Haitian government as part of a plan to strengthen its security capabilities.
鈥淭he skills acquired by the graduating class substantially improve the capabilities of the Haitian armed forces, allowing them to better serve and protect the Haitian people,鈥 said the Haitian ambassador to Mexico, Hubert Labbe.
Since the in 2021, gangs have increased their presence and it’s estimated they now control around 90% of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Their criminal activities and violence have extended to the countryside.
A Kenya-led multinational force is currently deployed in Haiti, but it has not contained the violence, and there have been some recent proposals to increase the international support.
A few days ago, with the power to detain gang members in Haiti. The plan would be to transform the Kenya-led force into a much larger force.
The Haitian soldiers trained in Mexico thanked the support.
鈥淭his type of support is essential for the Haitian armed forces to be able to increase their operational capacity and provide security and peace to our nation,鈥 said Haitian soldier Accilien Jimmy.
Haiti鈥檚 armed forces were disbanded in 1995 following a coup to oust former .
The army was reinstated in 2017 by slain President Mo茂se after the U.N. ended its peacekeeping operations.
