RUTO IN HAITI: Kenya Ready To Transition Haiti Mission Into A UN Peacekeeping Operation
Kenyan President William Ruto, who was visiting Haiti on Saturday, said he was willing to see Kenya’s anti-gang mission there expanded into a full U.N. peacekeeping operation.
Ruto went to Haiti to assess the progress of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, in which Kenya is leading efforts to combat rampant gang violence that has caused years of political chaos and mass displacement.
The MSS mission’s mandate, originally approved by the United Nations Security Council for 12 months, is set to expire at the beginning of October.
Reuters reported earlier this month that the Council has begun to consider a draft resolution to extend the MSS mandate and request that the United Nations plan for it to become a formal peacekeeping mission.
“On the suggestion to transit this into a fully U.N. Peacekeeping mission, we have absolutely no problem with it, if that is the direction the U.N. security council wants to take,” Ruto said on Saturday in Port-au-Prince.
The United States and Ecuador circulated a draft text to extend the MSS mandate for another 12 months.
Visit to Haiti. https://t.co/FXs3uG7lBn
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) September 21, 2024
They intend to request that the United Nations begin planning for the transition of the MSS mission to a UN peacekeeping operation.
On September 30, the 15-member council will vote on renewing the mandate.
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After the Security Council approved the MSS mission, Kenya sent approximately 400 police officers to Port-au-Prince in June and July, out of an expected total of 1,000.
A handful of other countries have pledged at least 1,900 additional troops.
However, the MSS mission’s efficacy has been questioned due to delays in the deployment of manpower and critical equipment required to combat powerful gangs.
On Friday, the United Nations’ human rights expert in Haiti stated that the situation has worsened, with approximately 700,000 people internally displaced.
RUTO IN HAITI: Kenya Ready To Transition Haiti Mission Into A UN Peacekeeping Operation
