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By: Reuters
Kenya intends to proceed with its plan to lead a U.N.-sanctioned security operation in Haiti, despite a recent court ruling in Nairobi halting the deployment, Kenyan President William Ruto informed Reuters on Tuesday.
The international initiative aims to address the widespread gang violence in Haiti, which resulted in nearly 5,000 fatalities last year and is set to be initially funded by the United States. However, the mission’s future was cast into uncertainty after a Kenyan court deemed it unconstitutional to send officers overseas without a “reciprocal arrangement” with the host government in place.
Ruto stated that Haiti had requested assistance several months ago, and he anticipated a formal request would be forthcoming to meet the court’s requirements. “If all the necessary paperwork is completed between Kenya and Haiti through the bilateral route proposed by the court, the mission can proceed as early as next week,” Ruto remarked following an Italian-Africa summit in Rome.
When asked about ongoing discussions with Haiti to secure the required request, Ruto confirmed, “Absolutely. Haiti formally reached out months ago, not today.”
Haiti initially sought aid in 2022 amid a surge in gang violence but struggled to find willing participants, given concerns from foreign governments about supporting the impoverished nation’s unelected leadership. Kenya, drawing on its extensive experience in international peacekeeping, volunteered last July and pledged 1,000 police officers, citing solidarity with a fellow nation.
Subsequently, the Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, and Jamaica expressed their willingness to contribute, with the United States committing $200 million to kickstart the deployment. “The mission remains on track.
It represents a larger humanitarian imperative,” emphasized Ruto, underlining that it was a police, not military, operation. Last week, the United Nations reported a staggering 119% increase in gang-related deaths in Haiti compared to 2022, with 4,789 documented fatalities, alongside approximately 3,000 kidnappings.
