Kenyan President William Ruto assured the UN on Thursday September 26 that his country would complete the deployment of the multinational police mission to Haiti, which is plagued by gang violence, by January 2025.
In October 2023, the UN Security Council approved the Multinational Mission for Security Support (MMAS), led by Kenya, to assist Haitian police overwhelmed by criminal gangs. Kenya has already deployed nearly 400 officers, alongside about 20 from Jamaica and Belize.
President Ruto highlighted that while Kenya and other African and Caribbean nations are committed to the mission, they are hindered by shortages in equipment, logistics, and funding. He urged all UN member states to “show solidarity with the Haitian people” by providing the necessary support. “Kenya will deploy additional contingents to reach 2,500 officers by January next year,” he told the UN General Assembly.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently criticized the lack of financial contributions to the mission, calling it “unacceptable.” On Wednesday, he noted that the UN’s special fund for the mission had raised $85.3 million, but this amount remains “totally insufficient.” Despite some progress, such as the reopening of Haiti’s airport, the security situation remains dire.