NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya and Haiti on Friday announced that they had signed an agreement that would allow the African country to lead a United Nations Security Council sanctioned Multinational Security Mission (MSS) to restore peace and security in Haiti.
Prime Minister Dr. Ariel Henry of Haiti and President William Ruto witness the signing of the reciprocal agreement allowing for troops from Kenya to be deployed in Haiti“From Kenya, we are ready for this deployment, and I request all the other partners across the globe to step up so that we can provide a response in good time,” said President William Ruto said at the signing.
“What this mission is bringing is hope for the future of humankind, for a people who cannot see how they will live tomorrow,” Haiti’s Prime Minister Dr. Ariel Henry said, pledging that his government would accord the Kenyan contingent all the necessary support to make the mission a success.
The reciprocal agreement was signed by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki for Kenya and Haiti Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers Alix Richard.
But even as the announcement was being made, rival gangs in Haiti have announced a truce and seek to capture the country’s police chief and government ministers in a bid to take over the country.
“On behalf of the various armed groups in the country, I announce the return of the ‘Viv Ansanm’ coalition. Today, February 29, 2024, we launch the battle which must overthrow the Prime Minister and his government, this is our first objective,” Jimmy Cerisier announced in a video at the start of what the gangs described as the “revolution”.
“Today, I declare that the hunt for ministers and the Director General of the PNH, Frantz Elbé, is open. We must stop them and send them to join Ariel Henry where he is, so that he never returns to the country.
“The Haitian people must be liberated. We will do it with our weapons,” affirming “All the armed groups in the country, in the provinces and in Port-au-Prince, are more united than ever. We, the armed men, have decided to take the future into our own hands,’ he added.
Last October, the UN Security Council authorized the deployment of the MSS to back Haiti’s beleaguered police force, which Kenya offered to lead. A 2022 sanctions regime, targeting gang leaders and their financiers, was also renewed.
But in January, the Kenya High Court ruled against sending troops to Haiti as part of the Multinational Security Mission (MSS) to restore peace and security in Haiti.
The High Court ruled the deployment, initially expected by January, unconstitutional in the absence of a “reciprocal arrangement” with the host government.
But according to the “reciprocal arrangement” signed on Friday, Kenya hopes it will satisfy the court’s objections to its plan to send 1,000 police officers to Port au Prince.
“I am pleased to inform that Prime Minister Ariel Henry and I have witnessed the signing of this instrument. We have also discussed the next steps to enable the fast-tracking of the deployment,” said President Ruto.
Besides Kenya, Mali and the Bahamas has committed 150 people, and Jamaica and Antigua and Barbuda said they were willing to help. Earlier this week, Benin offered 2,000 troops.
The United Nations said Benin is also the latest nation to officially confirm its intention to contribute personnel to the MSS.
Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, said on Thursday that, to date, US$10.8 million in contributions have been deposited into the MSS’s Support Trust Fund to operate the mission.
“We are also encouraged by the pledges of some US$78 million in recent days that will go directly to the fund, and we encourage Member States to continue contributing to ensure the successful deployment of the mission,” he said.
Dujarric said the mission will provide security assistance to the government of Haiti in its efforts to protect civilians and address the multiple crises, “which have left armed gangs holding sway in large parts of the country.”
In addition to Benin’s contribution of personnel, Dujarric said the UN has received, as of Wednesday, notifications to provide officers from the governments of the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados and Chad.
Henry, who was sworn in as prime minister with the backing of the international community shortly after the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, flew to Kenya from Guyana where he had been attending the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) summit.
On Friday, Henry told university students that he is aiming to “have elections as soon as possible., adding “in October 2022, we asked the world to give us a helping hand. President Ruto was the first one to agree to come to Haiti and we want to say thank you to him.
“We thank Kenya for its active solidarity,” Henry said.
In a statement following the CARICOM summit, regional leaders said Prime Minister Henry had “committed to major steps to move the political process forward, including the holding of general elections to restore constitutional government and authority no later than August 31, 2025”.
In addition, the regional leaders said that an electoral needs gap assessment team will be put together led by CARICOM and the United Nations with the support of Canada, United States and the Organization of American States (OAS) by 31 March 2024 to support planning and efforts of the relevant institutions to be established in Haiti.
