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  The Imminent Culture War with the Arrival of the MMSS in Haiti By Patrick Prézeau Stephenson ( Le Français suit ) The planned deployment of the Multinational Security Support (MMSS) mission to Haiti, led by Kenya, has taken an unexpected turn with President William Ruto enlisting evangelical pastors to guide the mission. This move comes after consultations with political advisers, security officials, and foreign leaders. The inclusion of religious leaders, particularly in dialogue with Haiti's notorious gang leader Jimmy "Barbecue" Chérizier, signals a unique and potentially contentious approach to addressing Haiti's ongoing crisis [1]. It is imperative to explore the implications of this development on the socio-cultural landscape of Haiti. The Role of Religion in Haitian Society Haiti's cultural and religious landscape is deeply complex and rich. The country's religious fabric is woven with Catholicism, Protestantism, and Vodou—a syncretic religion...

  MMAS vs. Bwakale: Can Deterrent Strategies Tame Haiti's Vigilante Movement? By Patrick Prézeau Stephenson   (Le Français suit) The imminent deployment of the Multinational Security Support (MMAS) mission in Haiti is sparking intense debates, particularly regarding the coordination between Kenyan forces and the Haitian National Police (PNH). Leslie Voltaire, a member of the Presidential Transition Council (CPT), recently stated in an interview with Wendell Theodore that there are no contradictions between his statements on France24 and those of Kenyan President William Ruto about the role of Kenyan soldiers who will accompany the PNH "side by side." [1,2,3]. However, one of the major challenges remains the language barrier and understanding the Haitian psyche, especially in relation to the Bwakale phenomenon. Context and Origins of the Bwakale Movement The Bwakale movement emerges as a popular response to the Haitian state’s inability to protect its citizens. Th...