On Monday, the U.N. Security Council approved the deployment of a multinational military force, under Kenya‘s leadership, to address the ongoing problem of violent gangs in Haiti. This decision implies a notable development, as it’s the first such deployment to the Caribbean nation in almost two decades.
With 13 votes in favour and abstentions from China and the Russian Federation, the resolution put forth by the United States and Ecuador was successfully adopted, highlighting a noteworthy divide in the decision-making process.
The resolution greenlights the deployment of the force for a twelve-month period, with a mandatory assessment after nine months. Funding for this non-U.N. mission will depend on voluntary donations, with the United States offering a pledge of up to $200 million.
The vote was conducted nearly a year after Haiti’s prime minister urgently requested the immediate deployment of an armed force. This force is anticipated to subdue the escalating gang violence and reestablish security, ultimately facilitating the long-overdue elections in Haiti.
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Haiti’s National Police is facing an uphill battle against gangs, as they are armed with just around 10,000 active officers in a country with a population exceeding 11 million.
‘More than just a simple vote, this is in fact an expression of solidarity with a population in distress,’ said Jean Victor Généus, Haiti’s foreign affairs minister. ‘It’s a glimmer of hope for the people who have been suffering for too long.’
While a fixed deployment date remains unspecified, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently indicated that a security mission to Haiti could be dispatched “within months.”
Kenyan Foreign Affairs Minister Alfred Mutua has stated that the force could be deployed within a timeframe of two to three months, potentially starting as early as January. Additionally, he highlighted the ongoing French language training for key officers.
Some hours after the vote, Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry thanked the U.N. Security Council, the U.N.’s secretary general and Kenya and other countries who consented to join the force, saying, ‘The bell of liberation sounded. … We couldn’t wait any longer!’
The force’s specific size has yet to be determined. Earlier, Kenya’s government had floated the idea of sending 1,000 police officers. Moreover, Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Antigua and Barbuda have made commitments to provide their own personnel.
The Russian Federation’s U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, indicated that he had no fundamental objections to the resolution. However, he underscored that sending an armed force to a country, even when requested, should be a meticulously thought-out measure.