UNITED NATIONS – The establishment of a Kenya-led multinational security support (MSS) mission for Haiti is moving closer as Haiti continues to face a crisis of violence and insecurity caused by entrenched criminal gang activity.
Protest on the streets of Port-au-Prince in crisis-torn Haiti. (UN Photo)Media reports suggest that infrastructure for the mission is being put in place as supplies arrive by air into the capital, Port-au-Prince.
More than 80 people have applied for the post of Prime Minister ahead of the May 17 deadline in keeping with the agreement reached on April 3 this year allowing for the establishment of the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT) that is tasked with ending the political and socio-economic crisis in the country.
Media reports say that among the candidates are former prime ministers, ministers or general directors, including Anacacis Jean Hector, Garry Conille, Michel Brunache, Gérald Germain, Lucmane Délile, Inel Torchon and Fritz Belizaire.
Earlier this month, the Fanmi Lavalas political party of former president Jean Bertrand Aristide, had threatened to withdraw from the nine-member CPT, if Bélizaire was not removed as prime minister.
The CPT had earlier named Belizaire, a former sports minister as the country’s prime minister replacing Michel Patrick Boisvert, the former minister of economy and finance who was the current interim prime minister.
In accordance with article 6 of the political agreement, candidates must be presented by the sectors forming the CPT or adhering to said agreement. Candidates’ documents must be accompanied by a letter of adhesion from the sector to the Agreement in question, the Communications Office of the Presidency, noted.
Seven of the nine-member CPT have voting rights. They include the ‘Pitit Desalin’ party headed by Jean-Charles Moise, the EDE party of former prime minister Charles Joseph; the Fanmi Lavalas party; the December 21 coalition led by Henry; the Montana Accord group; and members of the private sector.
The non-voting members will be represented by one member from civil society and one member of the interfaith community.
The CPT has already named Edgar Leblanc Fils, 68, a veteran politician and former president of Haiti’s national assembly, as provisional president.
Haiti is wracked by violence that has escalated to unprecedented levels. In an address to the United Nations Security Council on April 22 this year, the Special Representative of the Secretary General, Maria Isabel Salvador said “it is impossible to overstate the increase in gang activity across Port-au-Prince and beyond, the deterioration of the human rights situation and the deepening of the humanitarian crisis”.
She said that she had “consistently called attention to the inexorable requirement to restore security conditions”.
In March 2024, gangs mounted coordinated attacks targeting key state infrastructure, including multiple police stations and two of the main prisons in Port-au-Prince as well as educational and health facilities and religious sites.
“These attacks have further weakened state institutions and deepened the already critical challenges to the re-establishment of rule of law,” said said Salvador.
In the first three months of the year, the UN said 2,500 people, including at least 82 children, were killed or injured as a result of gang violence. Almost half of the victims were hit by bullets during violent attacks against their neighbourhoods or clashes between gangs and the police.
At least 438 persons were kidnapped for ransom during the same period.
The UN said that an estimated 362,000 people, half of them children, have been forced to flee their homes because it’s just too dangerous to remain.
Sexual violence and abuse against women and girls are on the rise, and tens of thousands of children are unable to attend school due to insecurity. The Haitian National Police (HNP) is unable to fully contain the outbreak of violence, and Haiti’s military is small and only modestly equipped.
Just about everyone agrees that assistance from the international community is needed to support the HNP in its efforts to stabilise the situation and make it possible for Haitians to go about their daily lives without the fear of falling victim to gang violence.
As far back as October 2022, UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres responded to a request from the former Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry, urging countries to step forward.
The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Chad, Jamaica and Kenya have officially notified the Secretary-General of their intent to contribute personnel to the support mission.
The UN Spokesperson confirmed that other countries had expressed interest in supporting the mission, but that the UN had not yet received official notifications to that effect.
A major sticking point initially was which country would step forward to lead what could be a very complicated and risky mission.
Media reports suggest that gangs exert some control over around 80 per cent of the capital. A recent reported agreement between gangs to form a united front against the mission has further complicated the picture.
Kenya will lead the mission. Kenyan officials visited Haiti to hold talks with Haitian and regional leaders, among others, regarding its mandate and scope.
The Kenyan President, William Ruto, told the UN General Assembly in September 2023 that Haitians were “suffering immensely from the bitter legacy of slavery, colonialism, sabotage and neglect”, adding that dealing with the situation there was the “ultimate test of international solidarity and collective action”.
It’s important to note that the security mission will not be a UN operation.
However, the Security Council authorised the mission and asked the Secretary-General to establish a trust fund to channel voluntary contributions to the operation.
At the end of April, the UN spokesperson confirmed that US$18 million had been deposited in the fund by Canada, France and the United States.
In endorsing the mission, the Security Council acted under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which, among other things, authorises the use of force after all other measures to maintain international peace and security are exhausted.
Meanwhile, the UN continues to support Haiti on multiple fronts. A political mission, known by its French acronym (BINUH) and which is led by Salvador, continues to support government efforts to strengthen political stability and good governance, including the rule of law.
UN agencies are providing humanitarian aid to Haitians affected by violence and insecurity, but also by natural disasters such as the August 2021 earthquake. The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) is currently transporting aid workers, critical equipment and lifesaving aid into and across Haiti. At the same time, the UN also continues to support authorities in strengthening socioeconomic development.
