Gangs in Haiti, Kenya and Peru take the Taliban name, BBC reports
A BBC Swahili investigation found armed gangs in Haiti, Kenya and Peru calling themselves "Taliban". In Haiti, a UN report says more than 5,700 people were killed or injured over nine months in gang-related violence.
Armed gangs in Haiti, Kenya and Peru have adopted the name "Taliban", BBC Swahili reported on Sunday. The groups have no link to the Taliban movement in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They borrow the name for its image of strength and defiance. In Haiti, the Taliban is one of many armed groups that have wielded strong influence for decades. A UN report found that more than 5,700 people were killed or injured in nine months. The violence was linked to armed groups or to operations against them. The report estimated that at least 1,000 women and girls were raped in the same period. Armed groups now control 80% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, according to the BBC. Haiti has more than 11 million people. It has not held an election in 10 years, and its president was killed five years ago. Romain Le Cour heads Haiti and Caribbean monitoring at an international organised crime and security institute. He said there are between 150 and 200 such groups. He said they control all roads into the capital and charge fees at checkpoints, including on goods coming from the port. He added that international airports have closed and that the…
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