Article: “A Kenyan-led international mission to support police in Haiti has been approved by the United Nations Security Council. The move comes as gangs continue to plague the country and security is increasingly tight worrying. However, despite this step forward, there are still uncertainties regarding the establishment of this force and its effectiveness.”
The resolution adopted by thirteen votes in favor and two abstentions gives the green light to a “multinational security support mission”, led by Kenya, for an initial period of twelve months. This mission aims to provide operational support to the Haitian police in their fight against gangs and for securing key infrastructure. The aim is to improve security to allow the organization of elections, which have not taken place since 2016.
The mission will be coordinated by Kenya, which has already promised to send 1,000 of its police officers to Haiti. However, this promise must be validated by the Kenyan Parliament. Foreign police officers will also train their Haitian counterparts and help them secure sensitive areas of the island so that daily life can return to normal. They will be authorized to use emergency measures, including making arrests.
This decision was welcomed by the Haitian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Victor Génus, who sees this as a glimmer of hope for his people. However, he also hopes that other countries will contribute to this mission by sending reinforcements. So far, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Barbados and Antigua have offered to participate, and the United States has announced a financial contribution of $100 million.
Although this decision by the Security Council shows solidarity with the Haitian people, there are still voices raised to express concerns. Some fear that this international mission will not be enough to resolve the crisis in Haiti, in the absence of a comprehensive political resolution. Others believe that the return of an international force is a disappointment for the Haitian population, which has already faced problems with MINUSTAH in the past.
Despite these criticisms, sending this international police support mission to Haiti is a step forward in resolving the crisis in the country. Let us hope that this force will be effective in the fight against gangs and the restoration of security, thus allowing the Haitian population to return to normal life and to finally be able to organize elections. The situation in Haiti remains difficult, but this mission offers a glimmer of hope for a better future.