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Kenya has appealed to the international community for additional financial support to sustain its role in the multinational security mission in Haiti. The request was made by President William Ruto as Kenya prepares to deploy an additional 600 police officers to the troubled Caribbean nation next month, amid ongoing gang violence.
The Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission was launched in June, with 400 Kenyan officers already deployed to support Haitian authorities in combating heavily-armed gangs that have taken control of much of Port-au-Prince and other regions. The deployment has been extended for another year following a UN Security Council resolution.
During a meeting with Haiti’s Prime Minister Garry Conille in Nairobi, President Ruto emphasized the importance of financial backing to continue the mission. He warned that current funding would only last until March 2024 and stressed the need for increased international contributions to meet the estimated $600 million annual cost. So far, only $85 million has been raised through a UN-established trust fund, according to Human Rights Watch.
Escalating crisis
Haiti has been grappling with severe gang violence, which has claimed more than 3,600 lives since January, including over 100 children, according to the United Nations. The violence has also displaced over 700,000 people, with over five million Haitians suffering from acute food insecurity.
Despite the challenges, Prime Minister Conille expressed gratitude for the Kenyan deployment, praising their swift response to a recent massacre in which over 115 people were killed by the Gran Grif gang in a farming region. He rejected claims that the Kenyan forces were inactive, noting their involvement in patrolling critical areas, including universities, hospitals, and administrative centers.
The MSS mission, although approved by the UN, is not a traditional UN peacekeeping operation and relies on voluntary contributions from member states. In addition to Kenya, at least 10 other countries have pledged to send a combined total of 2,900 officers, though only 430 have been deployed so far.
Urgency of financial support
President Ruto stressed that the success of the mission is closely tied to sustained funding. Without it, the mission could be hindered, especially as gangs expand their operations into new areas. The need for helicopters, drones, and night-vision equipment has been identified by UN officials as essential for the mission’s success, highlighting the urgent need for international donors to provide the necessary resources.
“The battle against gangs is one we can win, but we need the financial resources to maintain momentum,” Ruto stated.
The UN Security Council’s recent decision to extend the mission’s mandate for another year was welcomed, though efforts to turn it into a UN peacekeeping mission have been blocked due to opposition from Russia and China.
As Haiti continues to experience severe unrest, the international community faces increasing pressure to provide both the personnel and funding required to stabilize the country and restore order.
