A tragic road accident involving the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) that is supported by the Kenya Police Service (KPS) has claimed the lives of an MSS officer and a civilian.

MSS Spokesperson Jack Ombaka, in a statement issued on Monday, September 1, 2025, said that the tragic accident occurred on Sunday evening, August 31, 2025, along the Kenscoff–Pétion-Ville road at Perlerin 9.

According to the statement, the accident occurred around 5:00 p.m. during a recovery operation involving two MaxxPro vehicles.

Ombaka noted that one vehicle, while towing the other, developed mechanical problems, leading to the fatal crash.

“On Sunday, 31 August 2025, at approximately 1700 hours, officers of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) were involved in a tragic road traffic accident along the Kenscoff–Pétion-Ville road at Perlerin 9. The incident occurred during a recovery operation involving two MaxxPro vehicles. While one vehicle was towing the other, it developed mechanical problems leading to the incident,” the statement read in part.

Civilians involved

The collision also affected civilians in the area. Several of the injured were rushed to Lambert Santé Hospital in Pétion-Ville, where an MSS officer and one civilian were pronounced dead.

Eight MSS officers sustained injuries in the incident. Authorities have confirmed that three of them are in critical condition and will be medically evacuated to the Dominican Republic for specialised treatment after receiving initial care at the Aspen Level 2 Hospital at the LSA 2.

“The accident, unfortunately, also involved civilians. The injured personnel were rushed to the Lambert Santé Hospital in Pétion-Ville, where one MSS officer and a civilian were pronounced dead. Eight MSS officers sustained injuries; three of the injured are in serious condition and require medical evacuation to the Dominican Republic for specialised treatment after initial care at the Aspen Level 2 Hospital at the LSA 2,” Ombaka stated.

In the statement, the MSS also expressed its sorrow over the tragedy.

“The MSS extends its deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in this unfortunate accident. Our thoughts and prayers are with them, as well as with the injured, as they recover,” the statement read.

MSS mission

The Multinational Security Support Mission was established under a United Nations mandate to help stabilise Haiti, which has faced escalating gang violence and political unrest.

Kenya is leading the mission, with the Kenya Police Service providing the largest contingent. So far, 1,000 Kenyan officers have been deployed, forming the backbone of the MSS operations in Port-au-Prince and surrounding regions.

The deployment of Kenyan police officers, supported by personnel from other partner nations, marked a historic first for Kenya as it took charge of an international peacekeeping mission outside Africa.

The force has been tasked with supporting Haitian law enforcement, restoring security, and protecting critical infrastructure.

MSS officers’ deaths

This latest incident adds to a growing list of tragedies involving MSS personnel.

In March 2025, two MSS officers were killed during an ambush by armed gangs on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince.

Earlier, in June 2025, another officer lost his life in a roadside bomb explosion, marking the first fatality from an improvised explosive device since the mission began.