The United Nations Security Council on Monday, October 2 approved a yearlong multinational security mission for Haiti, led by Kenya.
Kenyan law enforcement officers are expected to help tackle rampant gang violence that has unraveled life for many in the Caribbean nation.
The 15-member United Nations Security Council voted to authorize a security mission that would guard critical infrastructure such as airports, ports, schools, hospitals, and key traffic intersections and carry out targeted operations along with the Haitian National Police.
The Council voted 13 in favor of the resolution, with two abstentions.
The idea for the Security Council to deploy a multinational force to Haiti was proposed by António Guterres, secretary general of the United Nations, in the aftermath of the breakdown of law and order in the country and gangs taking over ports and fuel depots, stated U.N. spokesman Stéphane Dujarric.
“We’re also asking member states to send in their own citizens into a very difficult and challenging environment with real life-and-death risk. So we understand this could take a long time. There are political and logistical implications,” Dujarric stated.
He added that countries that dispatch police or other security forces to Haiti will be held accountable for the actions of their troops and must ensure that they live up to the highest standards of human rights and conduct.
Nearly 3,000 people were killed in Haiti from October last year until June, as gangs took over large patches of the country, particularly Port-au-Prince, the capital, according to the United Nations. Many neighborhoods have cleared out as people fled widespread murders, kidnappings and extortion.
Following the massive gang-related attacks, President William Ruto fronted the Kenyan police to tackle the gangs.
Despite opposition by a section of leaders in the country, Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome dismissed the claims insisting that Kenyan law enforcement officers were well-trained to stabilize Haiti.
