The Former US special envoy to Haiti Daniel Foote has cautioned against the deployment of Kenyan troops to fight gangs in Haiti, convinced that the mission will fail.
Speaking to Aljazeera, the diplomat noted that the current situation in Haiti needs better intervention, terming Kenya as a third-world country with no capacity to deliver on the mission.
“You can’t ask Kenya to lead the operation, they can’t keep Nairobi safe,” Foote stated.
Citing Bangladesh, Barbados and Chad, Foote further stated that it was a great money-making strategy for countries, urging that the mission be led by more powerful nations.
“Any intervention needs to be led by a country that can lead police and security capacity, not an unproven third-world country,” he stated.
Foote, who was appointed as the special envoy to Haiti after the president was assassinated, explaining the insecurity level in the Caribbean country, noted that the now resigned Prime Minister was in danger in his own country.
“At this point, the United States international community has rushed to Haiti several times, and each time they have failed to stabilise the country,” he stated.
On March 11, Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigned following a crisis meeting between the 15-member Caribbean Community regional bloc.
"We acknowledge his resignation upon the establishment of a transitional Presidential Council and naming of an interim prime minister," the president of Guyana and chairman of CARICOM Mohammed Irfaan Ali stated.
“I think we can all agree that Haiti is on the brink of disaster. We must take quick and decisive action here in this room to bring the situation under control and to return the country to the Haitian people," Irfaan added.
Following Henry's resignation, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced an extra Ksh14 billion contribution towards the cause, further noting that a presidential college would be formed to ensure there was no political vacuum.
“The college will take concrete steps to meet the needs of Haitian people and enable the pending deployment of the multinational force to be led by Kenya,” Blinken stated.
