The US Ambassador at the United Nations is advocating for an 18-month political transition in Haiti.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield made these statements during an informal general assembly aimed at presenting the results of the President of the General Assembly’s visit to Haiti on November 20 and 21 and “hearing from the Member States on how to stimulate action in favor of Haiti.”
[……] “We encourage political actors in Haiti to come to the table for dialogue and to engage in an 18-month political transition. Because, if there can be no lasting political solution without security, we also know that the reverse is true,” said Linda Thomas-Greenfield without giving too many details.
While emphasizing the seriousness of the situation, the U.S. representative at the UN promises a contribution of $200 million for the deployment of a security force in Haiti.
“In collaboration with our Congress, we intend to provide up to $200 million for the MSS mission, including $100 million from the Department of State and up to $100 million in in-kind support from the Department of Defense,” said Linda Thomas-Greenfield during the 78th informal UN assembly on Haiti.
Madame Greenfield took the opportunity to invite other member countries of the Assembly to follow the example of the United States by providing “direct assistance to the MSS mission in the form of personnel, funding, and in-kind support,” LTG said. “Now, our request to the entire international community is simple: join us,” she added.
Kenya, which volunteered to lead the mission, recently indicated that it will not deploy troops to Haiti until it has access to the mission’s annual budget, which amounts to over $600 million.
“Unless all resources are mobilized […] our troops will not leave the country,” according to the Kenyan Minister of the Interior, whose statements were reported by Le Devoir newspaper.
In her speech to the General Assembly this Monday, the U.S. representative took the opportunity to draw the attention of other Assembly members to the numerous challenges facing Haiti. The many global crises should not divert attention from Haiti, warned Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
“Colleagues, the challenges facing Haiti are numerous, creating an untenable situation for its population. No one should live in fear of gang violence or go to bed hungry. No parent should lose their child due to cholera or see their neighborhoods reduced to ashes. The ability of the MSS to support the Haitian National Police in restoring security in Haiti, as mandated, will require sustained attention and resources from all of us.”
Linda Thomas-Greenfield also revealed that Kenya has already trained “its first contingent of officers with a verified and robust UN program.”
Over the past weekend, several media outlets reported that a first group of 300 Kenyan police officers is expected to arrive in Haiti in February 2024.
Planning teams containing Haitian and American officials had traveled to Kenya last week. “[A]n agreement on several key requirements before the MSS mission, including progress on an operational concept and the use of force,” was announced by Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
Contrary to what was previously planned, the multinational force will not only be responsible for facilitating the security situation. It should also provide diplomatic, humanitarian support, and strengthen capacities in Haiti. “This includes helping Haiti embark on the path of sustainable development. And this includes creating a lasting political solution, with free, fair, transparent, and credible elections, which Haiti has not had since 2016,” clarified Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
This text is a translated version of an original text written in French. The quotes may vary slightly from the original speech delivered by the US Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield.