The United Nations Security Council has authorized the deployment of a multinational armed force led by Kenya to Haiti to address the escalating issue of violent gangs.
This marks the first time in nearly two decades that a foreign power will be dispatched to the troubled Caribbean nation.
UN Approves Multinational Force for Stability in Haiti
The resolution, jointly drafted by the United States and Ecuador, received overwhelming support, with 13 votes in favor and only two abstentions from China and the Russian Federation. The approved resolution permits the multinational force to remain in Haiti for one year, with a review scheduled after nine months.
The mission will be funded through voluntary contributions, with the United States pledging up to $200 million in support. The vote’s timing comes nearly a year after Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry urgently requested the immediate deployment of an armed force.
This move is expected to combat the surging gang violence and restore stability, ultimately enabling Haiti to conduct long-overdue elections. Haiti’s National Police has been struggling to address gang-related issues, as it currently comprises only about 10,000 active officers in a nation with a population of over 11 million.
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Uncertain Timeline for Multinational Force in Haiti Post-UN Vote
While the deployment date has not yet been confirmed, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently mentioned that a security mission to Haiti could be deployed ‘in months.’ Kenyan Foreign Affairs Minister Alfred Mutua suggested that the force might be ready to deploy within two to three months or possibly by early January.
He also highlighted that key officers are undergoing French language training. Following the vote, Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry expressed gratitude to the UN Security Council, the UN Secretary-General, and the participating nations, stating, “The bell of liberation sounded. … We couldn’t wait any longer!”
The size of the deployed force remains uncertain, with Kenya proposing to send 1,000 police officers. Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Antigua and Barbuda have also pledged to send personnel. While the resolution received significant support, some countries, including Russia and China, expressed reservations about deploying an armed force to a country, even at its request.
The deployment of this multinational force is expected to pave the way for long-awaited general elections in Haiti.
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