Kenya Pushes for UN Transition of Haiti Security Mission Amid Funding Uncertainties and Escalating Violence

Kenya is accelerating efforts to transition its leadership of the security mission in Haiti to a UN peacekeeping operation, driven by concerns over the mission’s effectiveness, funding, and future sustainability. This move was discussed during a recent phone call between Kenyan President William Ruto and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. Ruto emphasized that the transition aims to “enhance the capability of the mission to help stabilize Haiti.”

The UN-backed multinational security mission, which includes a contingent of Kenyan police officers, was deployed to address the escalating gang violence in Haiti. However, the mission’s impact has been limited so far. UN special representative Maria Isabel Salvador reported to the UN Security Council in October that the situation in Haiti had “regrettably worsened” since July, with significant increases in acute violence and a 22% rise in internally displaced persons between August and October.

The mission is currently “critically under-resourced,” lacking adequate equipment and manpower. The first contingent of 430 Kenyan police officers was deployed in June, with plans to increase the number to 2,500 including officers from other countries. The future of the mission’s funding is uncertain, particularly with the upcoming change in the US administration and Republican control of Congress, which could impact continued financial support from the US.

Republican lawmakers have previously expressed skepticism about funding the mission, with House Foreign Affairs Chair Michael McCaul and Senate Foreign Relations ranking member Jim Risch criticizing the Biden administration for rushing to fund an “undefined and indefinite engagement in Haiti” without Congressional approval. The continued smuggling of weapons and ammunition into Haiti is also exacerbating the gang violence and territorial expansion.

In addition to the security challenges, Haiti is facing further political turmoil. On Sunday, Haiti’s Transitional Council fired Prime Minister Gary Conneill, who will be replaced by Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, a businessman and son of a former political prisoner under the regime of Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier.