UN Calls for More Kenyan Officers as Haiti Crisis Spirals Out of Control
NEW YORK/PORT-AU-PRINCE
The United Nations is urging a significant expansion of Kenya’s role in the international security mission in Haiti, as gang violence and political instability threaten to collapse the Caribbean nation.
During a special briefing to the UN Security Council on Monday, Maria Isabel Salvador, the UN’s Special Representative for Haiti, made an impassioned plea for enhanced global intervention, singling out Kenya’s police-led mission as a critical force on the ground.
“We are approaching a point of no return. No amount of effort by the Haitian government alone can significantly reduce the intensity of this violence,” Salvador warned.
Kenya Praised for Leadership in Multinational Security Mission
Salvador commended Kenya for taking the lead in the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission, which has been tasked with stabilizing Haiti amid surging violence from gang coalitions that have now seized key territories in and around Port-au-Prince.
She stressed that member states must support Haiti’s security forces “not as a matter of choice, but of necessity,” adding that gang violence is now spreading into previously stable areas such as Delmas, Pétion-Ville, and Kenscoff—the last remaining exit road from the capital.
Kenya Responds with Calls for Expanded Deployment
Kenya’s National Security Advisor, Amb. Dr Monica Juma, echoed the urgency of the situation, stating that an immediate expansion of MSS personnel is vital to deliver the expected impact and restore confidence among the Haitian population.
This follows a joint patrol ambush in Kenscoff, where at least three Haitian soldiers were killed by gang members from the coalition known as Viv Ansanm, even as Kenyan officers were part of the security effort.
Violence Overwhelms Local Forces, Spurs Displacement
According to Salvador, the situation on the ground is dire. Between February and March alone, 1,086 people were killed, 383 injured, and over 60,000 forcibly displaced, on top of the one million already displaced by the end of 2024.
Gangs have carried out coordinated attacks not only to expand territory but to destabilize institutions, with five prison breaks reported in less than a year. The most recent, in Mirebalais, freed more than 500 inmates, signaling a deliberate campaign to undermine state control.
UN Operations Also Under Threat
As commercial flights into Port-au-Prince remain suspended since November 2024 and road access is blocked, the UN has had to scale down and shift to hybrid operations. Salvador cautioned that without stable funding, even the limited UN presence could become unsustainable.
“We are committed to maintaining a lifeline to the Haitian people. But without sufficient resources, our ability to meet our mandate is at risk,” she said.
Revised Budget, But Rising Scepticism
Despite Haitian authorities adopting a revised budget to strengthen police and military capacity, public frustration is mounting. Recent demonstrations have called for stronger action, as citizens grow increasingly skeptical of the state’s ability to protect them.
Political opportunism is also on the rise, with some leaders exploiting the insecurity to undermine Haiti’s interim government.
“All future efforts must reinforce institutions under civilian authority, respect the rule of law, and uphold human rights,” Salvador emphasized.
As the crisis intensifies, Kenya’s expanding role is not just symbolic—it may become pivotal. The international community now looks to Nairobi and its partners to help reverse the spiral threatening Haiti’s very foundation.
