Article: Sending a multinational force to Haiti to support police overwhelmed by gangs
Last Monday, the UN Security Council finally gave its agreement to send a multinational force to Haiti to help the local police, who are overwhelmed by criminal gangs. This long-awaited decision was hailed as a glimmer of hope by the Haitian authorities.
For many months, gang violence in Port-au-Prince has continued to worsen. Residents face acts of terror such as rape, kidnapping for ransom, and brutal murders. Faced with this dramatic situation, Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres have called for a year to send a mission to support the police.
However, finding a country willing to lead this mission proved particularly difficult. Past experiences in Haiti and the risks of involvement in a deadly conflict have made countries reluctant to engage in this mission. Ultimately, it was Kenya that proposed sending a multinational force and deploying 1,000 men to Haiti.
The resolution adopted by the Security Council validates the creation of this multinational security support mission for an initial period of twelve months, with a re-evaluation after nine months. Its objective is to provide operational support to the Haitian police in their fight against gangs and to enable the organization of elections, which have not taken place since 2016.
The mission may also employ temporary and proportionate emergency measures in accordance with international law, if this would save lives. These measures may include arrests, in cooperation with the Haitian authorities.
Antonio Guterres highlighted in a recent report that the economic, political and security situation in Haiti has deteriorated significantly over the past year. Gangs are increasingly numerous and better armed than the police forces, and nearly 2,800 murders were committed between October 2022 and June 2023, including nearly 80 minor victims.
In addition to sending multinational troops, the adopted resolution also generalizes the embargo on small arms and ammunition in Haiti. Previously, this embargo only concerned gang leaders targeted by a sanctions regime. China played a key role in the decision, emphasizing the need to end arms trafficking to gangs, mainly from the United States.
This resolution is an important first step, but the work has only just begun to establish the sustainment mission. The United States announced it would provide logistical and financial support, but will not deploy security forces on the ground. In the coming months, participating countries will need to determine the schedule and composition of the mission in cooperation with the Haitian authorities.
In conclusion, sending a multinational force to Haiti to support police overwhelmed by gangs is a crucial step forward in the fight against violence and insecurity in the country. This mission will hopefully restore security and create an environment conducive to the organization of democratic elections. It is a glimmer of hope for the Haitian people, who have endured the consequences of this difficult situation for too long.