Kenya and Haiti seek more support for on going violence
Kenya and Haiti’s leaders called on international partners on Friday to fulfill their commitments to the U.N.-backed peacekeeping mission in Haiti, highlighting the need for more resources as the budget is set to run out in March 2025. Kenya is leading the mission to address escalating gang violence in Haiti, having deployed nearly 400 officers, alongside around 20 police and soldiers from Jamaica. However, this falls short of the 2,500 personnel pledged by various countries, including Chad and Bangladesh. During a meeting in Nairobi, Kenyan President William Ruto announced plans to send an additional 600 officers next month. The U.N. has received $68 million of the $85 million pledged for the mission. Ruto expressed optimism about the mission’s success based on recent operations, while Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille indicated ongoing discussions with countries like Brazil and Mexico to bolster support. Gang violence has surged in Haiti since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, with gangs reportedly controlling up to 80% of the capital. This has triggered a violent backlash from civilian vigilante groups. In early October, the U.N. Security Council unanimously extended the mandate of the Kenya-led multinational force but declined Haiti’s request to transition it into a U.N. peacekeeping mission.
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