The United States is abandoning a peacekeeping mission in Haiti due to pressure from Russia and China, reports Reuters.
A resolution is due to be presented to the UN Security Council on Monday.
Initially, Washington envisaged transforming the Security Support Mission in Haiti (SSM) into a formal UN peacekeeping operation. However, anticipating vetoes from Russia and China, the US adjusted its strategy to extend the current mandate of the MSS, a mission supported by volunteer countries.
The US administration has denied that this change is a concession to Russian and Chinese demands. A senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that the decision was in response to a recent appeal from the head of Haiti’s Transitional Council, Edgard Leblanc, who supports a peacekeeping mission. “It’s not that we are bowing down to those who may not have the best interests of the Haitian people at heart,” he said. Washington is seeking to support the Haitian request in a strategic way.
The resolution put to the vote on Monday proposes extending the SSM’s mandate until October 2, 2025. The mission was set up a year ago to help Haiti combat the growing insecurity caused by armed gangs. Diplomats have said that Russia and China are opposed to transforming the mission into a peacekeeping operation. Reuters has revealed that the United States has withdrawn this proposal from its draft resolution.
Russia’s deputy ambassador to the UN, Dmitry Polyanskiy, stressed that Russia wanted to give the security force more time to establish itself before considering its future: “It’s too early to draw conclusions about the SSM,” he said.
Despite the partial deployment of security forces, the situation in Haiti continues to deteriorate, warned several Haitian leaders at the UN General Assembly. Gangs, armed largely with weapons from the United States, have united and now control a large part of the capital, extending their influence to neighboring regions.
In his speech to the General Assembly on Thursday, Edgard Leblanc asserted that transforming the MSS into a peacekeeping mission would guarantee its success, while avoiding repeating the mistakes of the past. “I am convinced that this change in status, while recognizing that the mistakes of the past cannot be repeated, would guarantee the full success of the mission in Haiti,” he said.
The United States reiterated its support for Haiti in this process. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken raised the issue during his recent visit to Haiti. Washington continues to work with its international partners to support this initiative, according to an American official.
However, the presence of an armed UN mission remains controversial in Haiti, due to previous missions that have caused damage, including a cholera epidemic and sexual abuse scandals. The current MSS, led by Kenya, is authorized by the UN, but is not an official peacekeeping mission. It relies on voluntary contributions from third countries in terms of funding and personnel.
To date, results on the ground have been limited, with only 400 Kenyan police deployed and a lack of funding to meet urgent needs.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently expressed reservations about the effectiveness of a peacekeeping mission in Haiti, pointing to the humanitarian crisis in the country. Gang violence has displaced more than 700,000 people, and Haiti is facing widespread famine and sexual violence.
Article based on information provided by Reuters.
The transformation of the multinational security force into a UN peacekeeping operation will have to wait a little longer
