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Nearly 20 Kenyan officers serving in Haiti’s MSS mission have submitted resignation letters in the past two months over frustrations with delayed pay and poor conditions, according to multiple officers who spoke anonymously to Reuters. The officers, who were deployed to lead anti-gang operations, report that their last salaries were received in September, contrary to official statements that payments were current through October.
The MSS mission leadership has categorically denied these claims, stating that no resignations have been tendered and that salaries, including allowances, have been paid. This discrepancy between official statements and accounts from officers on the ground underscores tensions within the mission.
The MSS mission, led by Kenyan police, has faced significant operational obstacles, including a lack of adequate ammunition, insufficient personnel, and worsening gang violence. Officers have expressed feeling unprepared for the severity of the crisis in Haiti, with one describing harrowing scenes of violence and human suffering.
Efforts to bolster the mission, initially intended to include 2,500 personnel from multiple countries, have fallen short. Kenya’s deployment of 400 officers in June has yet to be supplemented by promised reinforcements from other nations. A pledge by Kenyan President William Ruto to send 600 additional officers in November has not been fulfilled.
The Biden administration, a major financial backer of the MSS mission, has advocated for its conversion into a formal U.N. peacekeeping force, a move that could stabilize funding and resources. However, opposition from China and Russia has stalled these efforts.
Gang violence, which has claimed thousands of lives over the past two years, is intensifying, with armed groups expanding their territorial control in Port-au-Prince. This worsening violence has led to increased attacks on Kenyan police positions, exacerbating morale issues among the deployed officers.
The political landscape in Haiti has also become more unstable. Last month, Haiti’s transitional council ousted the prime minister it had appointed just six months earlier, further complicating efforts to stabilize the country.
The controversy surrounding pay delays and working conditions threatens to undermine the MSS mission’s credibility and effectiveness. As the international community debates how best to address Haiti’s crisis, the MSS faces mounting pressure to deliver results despite its internal challenges.
For now, the Kenyan officers remain on the ground, but the specter of resignations looms large, potentially jeopardizing an already fragile mission.
