Kenya and Haiti leaders call for increased support for U.N.-backed peacekeeping mission

Leaders from Kenya and Haiti have appealed to international partners to fulfill their commitments to the U.N.-backed peacekeeping mission in Haiti, emphasizing the urgent need for additional resources as the mission's budget is set to expire in March 2025.

Kenya, which is spearheading the mission aimed at curbing gang violence in Haiti, has deployed nearly 400 officers to the Caribbean nation. They are supported by around 20 police officers and soldiers from Jamaica, but these figures fall significantly short of the 2,500 personnel pledged by various countries, including Chad, Benin, Bangladesh, and Barbados.

During a meeting in Nairobi on Friday, Kenyan President William Ruto announced plans to deploy an additional 600 officers next month. He stated, “We have a window of success that is evident from the operations that have been carried out already.”

Haiti Prime Minister Garry Conille, who attended the meeting, urged international partners to fulfill their pledges to ensure that the Kenyan contingent has the necessary resources to succeed. “Regular meetings with the Kenyan commander have filled me with encouragement that the fight against Haiti’s gangs is winnable,” Conille noted.

The situation in Haiti has deteriorated significantly since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse on July 7, 2021. Gangs are now estimated to control up to 80% of the capital, leading to a surge in killings, rapes, and kidnappings. This violence has prompted civilian vigilante groups to rise up against the gangs.

In early October, the U.N. Security Council unanimously voted to extend the mandate of the Kenya-led multinational force, dismissing a call from Haiti to initiate discussions on transitioning to a U.N. peacekeeping mission.

As of now, the U.N. has received $68 million of the $85 million pledged for the mission, highlighting the urgent financial needs of the operation as it seeks to restore peace and security in Haiti.