Nairobi welcomes UN resolution on Kenya-led intervention in Haiti

Kenya's President William Ruto has expressed his support for the UN Security Council's resolution to send a Kenya-led multinational armed force to Haiti in an effort to combat violent gangs. He pledged that the force would not fail the people of Haiti.

This deployment marks the first time in nearly two decades that a force will be sent to Haiti, where gang violence has escalated, leading to increased killings, kidnappings, and sexual assaults, Vox reports.

President Ruto stated that the Kenya-led force would provide a different approach to international interventions in Haiti's history. Importantly, this mission is not under the UN peace mission but will be overseen by Kenyan forces with authorization from the UN.

Funding for this non-UN mission will come from voluntary contributions, with the United States pledging up to $200 million, even though it will not be sending troops on the ground. The timeline for deployment has not been specified, but US Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned that it could occur "in months."

Kenya has a track record of sending peacekeepers to volatile regions and offered to send 1,000 personnel to Haiti in July. Nairobi's goal is to participate in the country's "rebuilding" efforts, particularly as Haiti has been under the governance of unelected officials for an extended period following the assassination of Haiti's President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021.