The United States has pledged its support for the transition of the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission(MSS) in Haiti barely two weeks before its expiry on October 2.
Speaking during a high-level meeting on Haiti hosted by Kenya and the US on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Monday, the US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau confirmed that it had kicked off efforts to establish a larger force to continue the mission.
According to Landau, the US and Panama had worked with Haiti to introduce a UN Security Council resolution to establish a larger gang-suppression force with a broader mandate and a UN support office for Haiti.
As such, the US had called on all its partners to join them in pressing for this critical resolution before the MSS mission mandate expired on October 2.
“This effort responds to the call from our partners in Kenya and has the full endorsement of Haiti,” Landau said.
“All 32 members of the Organisation of American States have also signed onto a joint statement calling for the urgent passing of this resolution.”
This new force would reportedly consist of 5,500 personnel, more than five times the size of the current MSS.
Speaking at the meeting, President Ruto called for a more streamlined intervention on the Haiti crisis by the international community when the transition takes effect in about 10 days.
Urging them to treat the situation in Haiti with the seriousness it deserves, Ruto urged the community to address the gaps that slowed the progress of the Kenyan-led mission in the successor mission.
“I want to persuade members of the international community to take the matters of Haiti as seriously as it deserves and hopefully provide a transition that is going to ensure we don’t let the people of Haiti down,” Ruto said.
“It cannot be what Kenya has gone through, a game of guesswork depending on people’s goodwill. It must be predictable if we are serious about solving the matter in Haiti. I don’t understand why we cannot be serious."
Ruto also highlighted some of the wins the Kenya-led mission had made in Haiti since the Kenyan troops landed in Haiti over a year ago, including securing the airport, the presidential palace, reclaiming police headquarters and training academy from gangs, and reopening schools and hospitals.
He also honoured the loss of three Kenyan officers – Samuel Tomoi Kaetuai, Benedict Kabiru, and Kennedy Nzuve – who lost their lives in the line of duty while in the Caribbean country.
