UN Security Council Approves Foreign Security Mission to Haiti to Combat Gang Violence
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Reuters) – The United Nations Security Council has authorized a foreign security mission to Haiti in response to the country’s request for help in combating violent gangs that have taken control of its capital, Port-au-Prince.
Haiti’s Foreign Minister, Jean Victor Geneus, expressed gratitude to the council, stating, “More than just a simple vote, this is in fact an expression of solidarity with a population in distress. It’s a glimmer of hope for the people that have for too long been suffering.”
The resolution, drafted by the United States and Ecuador, grants the so-called Multinational Security Support mission the authority to use all necessary measures, including the use of force.
However, China and Russia abstained from the vote, expressing concerns over the authorization of the use of force. The remaining 13 council members voted in favor of the resolution.
Senior U.S. diplomat Jeffrey DeLaurentis stated, “We have stepped up to create a new way of preserving global peace and security, answering the repeated calls of a member state facing a multi-dimensional crisis amid alarming spiraling gang violence.”
In addition to authorizing the security mission, the Security Council also expanded a U.N. arms embargo to include all gangs. This measure was supported by China, as Haitian officials have stated that guns used by gangs are mostly imported from the United States. Previously, the embargo only applied to specific individuals.
China’s U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun emphasized the importance of the decision, stating, “This is a very important decision. If the council had taken this step at an earlier time, the security situation in Haiti might not have deteriorated to what it is today.”
The response to Haiti’s request for help was delayed as the UN struggled to find a country willing to lead a security assistance mission. Kenya has stepped forward with a commitment of 1,000 police, while the Bahamas has committed 150 personnel. Jamaica and Antigua and Barbuda have also expressed their willingness to provide assistance.
Following the council’s approval, the timeline for the deployment of the security mission remains unclear. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield stated that the work of getting the mission off the ground will begin now.
While the U.S. government will not be sending troops, it has pledged to provide $100 million in logistical and financial assistance to support the multinational mission, which may include intelligence, airlift, communications, and medical support.
Haiti has been without any elected representatives since January, and Prime Minister Ariel Henry has stated that fair elections cannot be held under the current insecurity. The Security Council stressed the urgent need for Haiti to make progress toward transparent, inclusive, credible, and free and fair elections.
It is important to note that the security assistance mission, although authorized by the Security Council, is not a United Nations operation.
Haitians remain cautious of an armed U.N. presence due to past experiences. In 2010, UN peacekeepers were responsible for introducing cholera to the country through infected sewage, resulting in thousands of deaths and illness. The council resolution adopted on Monday also calls for appropriate wastewater management and other environmental controls to guard against the introduction and spread of water-borne diseases.
The UN peacekeeping troops were deployed to Haiti in 2004 following a rebellion, which led to the ouster and exile of then-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. They were replaced by UN police in 2017, who left in 2019.
Reporting by Michelle Nichols; additional reporting by Sarah Morland; editing by Cynthia Osterman