The Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti, tasked with restoring order in a nation beset by gang violence, is making gradual progress despite challenges, according to experts and officials.
The mission, though advancing, faces numerous obstacles that have hindered its pace and effectiveness in fully neutralising the gangs that have taken hold of the country.
According to security aspects, the mission in Haiti is faced with a three-fold challenge threatening the gains of the collaborative assignments.
The challenges include; underfunding, lack of resources and a lack of necessary forces to bring back the restive country to normalcy, exerting pressure on the international community.
“This is not moving at the speed that I think everyone expected,” stated Georges Fauriol, a senior adviser with the Latin America program at the U.S. Institute of Peace.
Speaking to The Hill, Fauriol described the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission as a “three-legged vehicle that is missing a wheel,” illustrating the difficulties the mission faces in its current state.
He added that stakeholders are divided over whether to overhaul the existing framework or simply try to address the missing components to make the mission more effective.
The mission’s challenges are compounded by the broader global context.
Fauriol pointed out that the United States, a key player in supporting the MSS, is heavily focused on two other significant conflicts: the wars in Gaza and Ukraine.
This distraction, coupled with resistance from Republicans to allocate additional funds to the mission, particularly in the politically sensitive period leading up to an election year, has made it increasingly difficult to secure the necessary financial support.
“Everyone is waiting for something more to happen from the United States,” Fauriol noted, acknowledging a widespread perception that the U.S. is hesitant to deepen its involvement in Haiti.
However, he stressed that this perception was misleading. “Actually, it is very much engaged,” he opined, though the engagement has not yet produced the desired outcomes on the ground.
Despite the slow pace, there have been signs of progress. A spokesperson for U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) disclosed some positive developments, including the resumption of commercial flights, which had been disrupted due to the instability.
“It will take some time to achieve a level of operational success that reverses the current security crisis and restores lasting stability in communities that were previously exploited and victimized by ruthless gangs,” the spokesperson explained.
Renata Segura, program director for Latin America and the Caribbean at the International Crisis Group, shed light on the internal dynamics of the gangs, explaining that while they have formed strong alliances, they are not united and lack the military training to resist a well-organized armed force.
Two months ago, hundreds of Kenyan police officers were deployed to the Caribbean country to help local forces repulse the impact of uncountable gangs.
