Port-au-Prince, Haiti – The Clarity Times: – On September 30, 2023, the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2751, renewing for one year the authorization for member states to deploy a Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti. This mission aims to help restore security in the country and facilitate conditions conducive to free and fair elections, particularly amidst the ongoing gang violence that has plagued the nation.
The resolution responds to the Haitian government’s urgent request for international assistance, which it made in October 2022. In July 2023, Kenya agreed to lead the mission, pledging to send 1,000 police officers, with support from additional nations primarily from Africa and Latin America.
The MSS mission was initially authorized in October 2023 through resolution 2699, which mandated it to provide operational support to the Haitian National Police (HNP) and protect vital infrastructure. However, the mission has faced funding and resource availability challenges, limiting its capacity to extend its influence beyond the capital, Port-au-Prince.
In a significant development during the negotiations for the renewal, UN members ultimately retracted the idea of transforming the MSS mission into a UN peacekeeping force due to threats of a veto from China and Russia. Both countries expressed concerns over the conditions in Haiti, arguing that they were not conducive to a new peacekeeping operation. This shift underscores the complexities of securing international support for Haiti’s stabilization efforts.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during his visit to Haiti earlier this month, confirmed the importance of sustainable funding and hinted at the potential for future discussions on the mission’s capabilities.
With the Security Council’s recent vote, the international community is called upon to provide the necessary support for the MSS mission to contribute to Haiti’s stabilization and democratic governance efforts effectively.
