On the right, Kenyan officers patrol streets, while on the left, Haitian counterparts navigate through protests. Amidst global hesitancy, US-led efforts rally support for Kenya’s peacekeeping mission in Haiti. IMAGE FILE /COURTESY
In Summary:
- US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken seeks backing from G20 nations for Kenya’s contentious peacekeeping endeavor in Haiti.
- Despite US efforts, Brazilian President Lula da Silva expresses reluctance in providing police volunteers for the Kenya-led mission, citing reservations shared by South American leaders.
In a bid to secure funding and international support for Kenya’s embattled peacekeeping mission in Haiti, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has convened meetings with officials from 20 countries.
The initiative comes as Kenya faces numerous challenges in its efforts to deploy a peacekeeping contingent to the Caribbean nation.
Commencing the discussions in Brazil on Wednesday, February 21, Blinken engaged in a pivotal two-hour meeting with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, emphasizing the pressing need for collaborative efforts to address the situation in Haiti.
However, despite acknowledging the dire circumstances in Haiti, President da Silva, along with other South American leaders, voiced hesitancy in providing police volunteers for the Kenya-led mission.
Despite the reservations, President da Silva committed to participating in a high-level discussion hosted by the UN and the US, aimed at addressing the crisis in Haiti.
The upcoming G20 meeting, titled ‘Rising to the Challenge on Haiti,’ will gather officials to deliberate on ways to support the mission and alleviate the humanitarian crisis.
While the US has pledged financial assistance for the mission, it remains dependent on contributions from other nations, including equipment and personnel.
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Kenya, alongside countries like Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Antigua and Barbuda, intends to deploy a total of 2,500 officers to Haiti. However, Kenya’s plan has encountered obstacles, including funding issues and legal opposition.
In January, the Kenyan High Court ruled the government’s deployment of police officers to Haiti as unconstitutional, impeding President Ruto’s efforts to fulfill the commitment.
Nevertheless, President Ruto remains resolute in his decision to send the officers, revealing ongoing collaboration with Haiti to draft a bilateral agreement.
Recently, officials from Kenya and Haiti signed a Memorandum of Understanding during a three-day meeting in the US, yet details regarding a new deployment deadline for the police officers remain undisclosed, underscoring the complex challenges facing Kenya’s mission to Haiti.