Kenya Police In Haiti Fully Paid As Blinken Flies To Meet With MSS Commanders
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken begins a two-day tour of Haiti on Thursday, hoping to strengthen the UN-backed Multinational Security Support (MSS) in the country.
According to a statement from State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller, Blinken is scheduled to meet with Transitional Presidential Council Coordinator Edgard Leblanc Fils.
He is also scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Garry Conille.
He stated that their discussions will focus on the next steps in Haiti’s democratic transition as well as US humanitarian assistance to the Haitian people.
.@SecBlinken heads to the Caribbean this week to meet with leaders in Haiti and the Dominican Republic about enhancing security in the region, including through the Multinational Security Support mission in Haiti. pic.twitter.com/JnZJ0n9kJa
— Matthew Miller (@StateDeptSpox) September 4, 2024
Blinken will meet with the MSS mission leadership.
Kenya’s Godfrey Otunge is the force commander and currently leads a contingent of approximately 400 security personnel drawn from the various units of the National Police Service.
Kenya plans to deploy at least 1,000 officers.
Miller stated that the meetings emphasise the United States’ commitment to assisting in the reestablishment of security in Haiti, as well as the importance of promoting human rights.
His visit, however, comes on the heels of concerns raised by officers and their families back home about the delayed payment of their salaries.
August 25 marked exactly two months since the officers arrived in the country beset by gang violence.
The first team arrived on June 25, and the second arrived a month later, on July 16.
The team claimed they have yet to receive their salaries under the UN-backed mission.
HAITI MISSION UPDATE
— National Police Service-Kenya (@NPSOfficial_KE) September 1, 2024
The Kenyan-led multinational Mission to Haiti (MSS), in collaboration with Haiti National Police (HNP) are conducting clearance operations in Delmas, Bel-Air, Solino, and their environs to weed out gangs and return normalcy.
Each officer in the mission is expected to receive at least Sh100,000 more than their salaries as police officers in Kenya.
They’ve since been paid. The current mission is supported by the United Nations, with the United States making significant contributions.
The officers recently received 24 new APCs from the UN to support their operations.
US Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian Nichols recently stated that they are considering several options.
This includes a formal UN peacekeeping operation, which could help ensure the mission’s long-term financing and staffing.
Blinken will also travel to the Dominican Republic to meet with President Luis Abinader.
“In Santo Domingo, Blinken and Abinader will reinforce our close and longstanding partnership, and discuss collaboration to advance inclusive economic growth and champion human rights,” said Miller.
The talks will also focus on promoting good governance, security, and climate resilience in the region, including through the US-Caribbean Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis (PACC 2030) and the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI).
Kenya Police In Haiti Fully Paid As Blinken Flies To Meet With MSS Commanders
