U.S. pledges $160M to boost security operations in Haiti

PORT-AU-PRINCE — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Wednesday the United States will provide an additional $160 million to support security efforts in Haiti. The funds will primarily aid the Haitian National Police (PNH) in its fight against gang violence and bolster community violence prevention programs.

The announcement came during a multilateral meeting on Haiti’s current situation, coinciding with the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Blinken, alongside U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield, led the meeting to rally international support for the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission deployed in Haiti since June. The Kenya-led MSS faces significant material and funding challenges.

“The crisis in Haiti is dire, but we cannot lose hope or determination,” Blinken said. “We cannot stand by and watch more kidnappings, killings, and suffering.”

Blinken, who recently visited Haiti, acknowledged the ongoing challenges: “There is still violence and displacement, grinding poverty, and political infighting. But we also see progress. We have a chance to build on this progress and a renewed sense of hope.”

The MSS, authorized by the UN Security Council in October last year, is currently at a critical juncture. Its mandate expires on October 2, and discussions on whether to renew the mission or transition it into a full United Nations peacekeeping operation are ongoing.

Seeking more international support 

The high-level meeting saw participation from Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nations, Canada, France, Kenya, and Haitian officials, including Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) President Edgar Gardy Leblanc Fils and Prime Minister Garry Conille.

Leblanc emphasized the need for international cooperation to address Haiti’s deepening security crisis. Since April, the CPT has made progress with forming a new government and a Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) to organize a constitutional referendum and elections by the end of 2025. However, without security improvements, these goals remain out of reach.

: “It is never too late to act rightly and learn from past mistakes. We want to explore transforming the MSS into a peacekeeping operation under a UN mandate to build a better future for the Haitian people.”

Edgar Gardy Leblanc Fils, Transitional Presidential Council

“We hope to organize elections, but that depends on strengthening the mission and securing the necessary funds,” Leblanc said. “We need more personnel and equipment to resolve the security issues and allow elections to take place.”

Prime Minister Conille echoed the call for international assistance, noting that the Haitian police alone cannot secure territories reclaimed from gangs. “The Haitian people are watching with cautious optimism, but the reality is that we can’t do this without your help,” Conille said to the meeting participants.

Mulling the MSS transformation into a UN mission

The MSS still needs to overcome significant hurdles, including inadequate resources and personnel. According to Kenyan President William Ruto, only 407 police officers and soldiers from Kenya, Jamaica, and Belize are deployed in the mission, projected to cost $600 million a year.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed reported that the UN Trust Fund, established to collect voluntary contributions from member states for the mission, has received less than $67 million in cash, falling short of the $84 million pledged by six countries. The contributors are Canada ($45 million), the United States ($15 million), France ($3 million), Spain ($3 million), Italy ($360,000), and Turkey ($50,000). This funding gap spurs the U.S. to consider transitioning the MSS into a UN mission to attract broader international support.

Blinken raised the idea during his visit to Haiti on Sep. 5, stressing the importance of building on the limited gains made by MSS forces working alongside the PNH. 

Leblanc also endorsed the proposal while acknowledging Haiti’s troubled history with past UN missions, including allegations of human rights abuses. However, he believes this could be an opportunity for the UN to redeem itself by restoring its reputation and providing lasting solutions in the country.

“It is never too late to act rightly and learn from past mistakes,” Leblanc said during his address to the United Nations General Assembly. “We want to explore transforming the MSS into a peacekeeping operation under a UN mandate to build a better future for the Haitian people.” 

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U.S. pledges $160M to boost security operations in Haiti was first posted on September 27, 2024 at 9:41 am.