Potential for UN Deployment to Haiti Grows
The President of the Republic of Kenya (KE), William Ruto, expressed his support for a plan that would see the deployment of nearly 1,000 Kenyan soldiers to Haiti (HT) during a speech to the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on September 21, 2023. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is set to vote on a resolution regarding the deployment within the next two weeks.
Background
On October 10, 2022, Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry officially requested the deployment of an international peacekeeping force to the Republic of Haiti. This request was initiated as a result of the governments inability to exercise control over its sovereign territory, including in Port-au-Prince, due to rampant gang violence. The assassination of former President Jovenel Moise in his residence on July 7, 2021 plunged the Caribbean island into a state of chaos, which it has been unable to escape from ever since.
Fuel, water, basic food stuffs, and medical supplies are extremely rare, as several powerful Haitian gangs have established control of ports, airports, and supply depots across the country. Schools, fuel depots, banks, and grocery stores are now mostly shuttered or operate on irregular schedules. Security forces have proved incapable of re-establishing government control of areas throughout the capital and wider country, resulting in some analysts identifying Haiti as a failed-state.
The United States Department of State ordered the departure all US citizens and residents from the country on July 27, 2023, and indicated recovery efforts for American's kidnapped or wounded would be difficult given current situation on the ground.
The Resolution
The UNSC is set to vote on a resolution regarding the deployment of multinational coalition to the country within the next two weeks. While nations such as the United States of America (US), Canada (CA), Equador (EC) and Kenya support such an action, the People's Republic of China (PRC) and Russian Federation (RU) will likely oppose military action in the Caribbean due to previous opposition by both countries in 2022 to similar resolutions.
If such a resolution was to be approved by the UNSC, it would be a major effort for the United Nations, as any contingent would require the commitment of significant military, law enforcement, and aid resources in order to be effective. While most observers understand that the initial use of force against gangs would be bloody and difficult, fewer understand that any commitment of forces would be several years in length and result in significant loss of blood and treasure to any peacekeeping force.