Kenya and Haiti are calling on their international partners to increase support for the peacekeeping mission in Haiti due to a funding shortfall. The leaders of both countries emphasised the importance of providing more resources to the U.N.-backed mission, which is facing a budget depletion by March 2025.
Kenya, taking the lead in efforts to tackle gang violence in Haiti, has deployed close to 400 officers to the Caribbean nation. This support is supplemented by around twenty police officers and soldiers from Jamaica. However, these numbers fall significantly short of the 2,500 personnel that were pledged by countries such as Chad, Benin, Bangladesh, and Barbados for the mission.
During a meeting between Kenyan President William Ruto and Haiti Prime Minister Garry Conille in Nairobi, it was announced that Kenya plans to deploy an additional 600 officers next month to further bolster the mission. Despite having $85 million in pledges for the mission, only $68 million has been received so far.
President Ruto highlighted the progress made in previous operations, stating, “We have a window of success that is evident from the operations that have been carried out already.” Prime Minister Conille urged international partners to fulfill their pledges and send the promised officers to ensure that the Kenyan-led contingent has the necessary resources to succeed.
The gangs in Haiti have gained strength following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, now reportedly controlling up to 80% of the capital city. The escalation in violent crimes, including killings, rapes, and kidnappings, has prompted civilian vigilante groups to rise up in response.
In early October, the U.N. Security Council unanimously voted to extend the mandate of the multinational force led by Kenya, rejecting Haiti’s request to initiate discussions on transforming it into a U.N. peacekeeping mission.
The ongoing challenges in Haiti underscore the crucial need for sustained international support to restore stability and security in the country. Both Kenya and Haiti are resolute in their call for increased assistance from their global partners to address the urgent funding shortfall facing the peacekeeping mission.