Kenyan President William Ruto announced Thursday that the United States will continue supporting Kenya’s Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission in Haiti despite Washington’s broader pause on foreign aid.
Ruto revealed that he spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, where they reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening diplomatic and security cooperation.
“Our discussion confirmed that the United States has specifically exempted its support for the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission in Haiti from the broader pause on federal assistance, recognizing the critical need to sustain momentum for the mission and its role in stabilizing Haiti and restoring order,” Ruto stated.
His remarks come as the US government reviews its foreign aid policy, raising concerns about the potential impact on global security initiatives.
During the call, Ruto and Rubio also discussed regional security issues in Africa, particularly the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where over 2,900 people have been killed.
They also addressed the upcoming joint meeting between the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC), scheduled to take place in Tanzania.
Kenya deployed an additional 168 police officers to Haiti on Thursday, reinforcing efforts to combat armed gangs that have plunged the Caribbean nation into chaos.
Kenya’s Haiti mission to continue as US exempts aid from funding freeze
Geoffrey Otunge, the force commander leading the mission, emphasized the commitment of the MSS to restoring peace and stability in Haiti.