UN approved a Kenya-led security mission to troubled Haiti

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in news?
• Violence in Haiti
• News Summary: UN approved a Kenya-led security mission to troubled Haiti
• Why is the UN sending a multinational security mission to Haiti?
• About the mission
• What led to the delay in intervention?

Why in news?

• The UNSC has approved international intervention in the form of a foreign security mission, led by Kenya, to restore security, and control spiralling violence in Haiti.
• The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) voted to adopt the resolution in this regard.

Violence in Haiti

• Where is Haiti?
  • Haiti occupies the western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, situated between Cuba and Puerto Rico, which it shares with the Dominican Republic.
  • The Atlantic Ocean borders Haiti's northern shores, while the Caribbean Sea is to the west and south.
• Violence in Haiti
  • Haiti has experienced a surge in violence over the past year as armed groups took control of large parts of the country, including the capital Port-au-Prince.
  • This has resulted in widespread killings of nearly 2,800 people, including 80 minors, between October 2022 and June 2023.
  • Human rights groups have reported a rise in sexual violence and crimes against women.
  • In addition to this, mass looting and burning of houses have led to the displacement of thousands of people, with around 200,000 fleeing their homes.
  • As per estimates, almost half the population is in need of humanitarian assistance.

News Summary: UN approved a Kenya-led security mission to troubled Haiti

Why is the UN sending a multinational security mission to Haiti?

• Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry first sought international support to assist the national police in October 2022.
• This was after the country plunged into a crisis when a group of gangs called G9 and Family seized control of the entry of the main fuel port Varreux in the capital.
  • They were protesting the PM’s decision to cut fuel subsidies.
• To make matters worse, there was a shortage of bottled water in the backdrop of a new outbreak of cholera.
• As the crisis deepened and overwhelmed the short-staffed police force, Haitian leaders turned to the international community for help.
• They sought a specialised armed force to counter gangs and their sponsors.

About the mission

• Not operated by the UN
  • Unlike the U.N. peacekeeping mission to Haiti that ended in 2017, the multi-national security mission approved by the UNSC will not be operated by the United Nations.
  • Kenya has volunteered to lead the force. Other countries like the Bahamas, Jamaica and Antigua and Barbuda have also offered support.
• Operational support to the Haitian National Police
  • The force will provide operational support to the Haitian National Police.
  • This includes building its capacity to counter gangs, improve security conditions in the country and secure ports, airports and critical intersections.
  • The forces will have the authority to make arrests in coordination with Haitian police.
  • It also intends to create favourable conditions in the country to pave the way for elections. Polls have not taken place in Haiti since 2016.
• Support from US
  • The United States has made it clear that it won’t send its troops.
  • It, however, has pledged $100 million in logistical support like intelligence, communications, airlift operations and medical aid.

What led to the delay in intervention?

• Haiti’s troubled past with foreign military interventions is being viewed as the primary reason for the delay in the deployment of a multinational security mission to counter the gang violence in the country.
• The last time a force was sent to stabilise Haiti was in 2004 when former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was overthrown in a rebellion.
• This was followed by a U.N. peacekeeping mission — the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) which went on from 2004 to 2017.
• The mission was marred by allegations during its deployment in the country.
  • A sewage runoff from a peacekeeper camp was blamed for causing a cholera epidemic which saw more than 10,000 deaths.
  • There were also serious allegations of sexual abuse against the U.N. peacekeepers.
• Since then, Haitians have been sceptical about the intervention of a foreign armed force.
• Besides the country’s troubled past with interventions under the aegis of the U.N., countries were also wary of lending support to Prime Minister Henry who does not enjoy the popular support of Haitians.

Q1) What is a U.N. peacekeeping mission?

UN peacekeeping is a unique global partnership. It brings together the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Secretariat, troop and police contributors and the host governments in a combined effort to maintain international peace and security.

Q2) What is the U.N. Security Council? 

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the six main organs of the United Nations. It was established in 1945. The UNSC's primary responsibility is to maintain international peace and security.

Source: Why has the UN approved a Kenya-led security mission to troubled Haiti? | Explained