The Biden administration has pledged $100 million in support of a proposed Kenyan-led multinational force that would be deployed to Haiti. This initiative comes in response to the Caribbean nation’s ongoing struggles with widespread gang violence and ineffective policing. Secretary of State Tony Blinken emphasized the urgency of the situation and called on other countries to make similar contributions.
Under this plan, the United States will provide logistics, including intelligence, airlift, communications, and medical support to the mission, pending approval from the U.N. Security Council. Alongside Kenya, personnel from several Caribbean nations would also be deployed to Haiti. Blinken urged the international community to pledge additional personnel, equipment, logistics, training, and funding to ensure the success of the mission.
The security unit, led by Kenya, aims to combat the escalating gang violence in Haiti. Blinken stressed that while improved security is crucial, it must be accompanied by significant progress in resolving the political crisis and addressing the country’s pervasive corruption, lawlessness, and political chaos.
In a closed-door meeting, President Biden discussed Haiti, the proposed Kenyan mission, and the outcomes of the top Kenyan officials’ visit to Haiti in August. More than 30 countries attended the meeting, with at least 11 of them making concrete commitments of support.
Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry, left, greets Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Alfred Nganga Mutua, right, before being addressed by United States Secretary of State Tony Blinken, center, New York, Friday, Sept. 22, 2023.
(Bing Guan/Pool Photo via AP)
It remains unclear what specific commitments were made by these countries, and no information was provided regarding China and Russia’s stance on a potential U.N. Security Council resolution to authorize the Kenyan mission.
Kenyan President William Ruto recently expressed his country’s commitment to leading a multinational force in Haiti to combat gang violence and established diplomatic ties with Haiti. While the U.S. plans to submit a U.N. resolution to authorize the mission, no timetable has been set. Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry had previously requested immediate deployment of a foreign armed force in October.
Blinken emphasized the dependence of the safety, security, and future of the Haitian people and the wider region on the urgency of taking action. However, Kenya’s offer to lead the multinational force has sparked skepticism among Haitians and Kenyans alike.
Gang violence in Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, and its surrounding areas has surged in recent months. The latest U.N. statistics indicate a 14% increase in the number of people killed, injured, or kidnapped between April and June compared to the previous three months. Gangs now control up to 80% of Port-au-Prince, and their power has grown following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021. The situation has forced nearly 200,000 Haitians to flee their homes as gangs pillage communities and perpetrate acts of violence.
In addition, gangs have taken control of major roads leading to Haiti’s northern and southern regions, causing disruptions in food distribution. This poses a significant challenge as Haiti, alongside Somalia and other countries, faces or is projected to face starvation this year. Over 4 million people, out of Haiti’s population of 11 million, are experiencing high levels of acute hunger, with 1.4 million at emergency levels, according to the U.N. World Food Program.
It is imperative for the international community to act swiftly to address the pressing security and humanitarian issues faced by Haiti.
