Haiti: The UN Security Council will discuss endorsing an international force to support Haiti’s police in their fight against criminal gangs, as per the published agenda.
Haitian Prime Minister Mr. Ariel Henry and UN Secretary-General Mr. Antonio Guterres have been urging for a force to deal with Haiti’s worsening security situation for the past year.
Finding a country willing to lead the effort to address Haiti’s current security challenges is challenging due to the risks associated with past peacekeeping efforts in Haiti and the complexities of interfering in the current situation.
In late July 2023, Kenya declared its readiness to take the lead and send a 1,000-strong force to Haiti, a country facing economic challenges.
The United States, offering logistical support without troops on the ground, mentioned last month that several other nations were ready to assist with a multinational security force.
The Security Council members will decide whether to approve a mission involving countries like Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Antigua and Barbuda. The mission would not be under UN control, following weeks of internal deliberation on the mandate.
In mid-September 2023, Prime Minister Mr. Henry urged the international community at the UN General Assembly to urgently assist Haiti. A recent UN report from the secretary-general’s office highlighted that Haiti’s various crises have worsened in the past year.
The report stated that the gangs, with significant control over parts of Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas, have escalated their violence to more intense and brutal levels.
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