US pushes for OAS-led force to replace Kenya in Haiti mission
Kenya currently provides the largest number of personnel for the multinational security support (MSS) force, while the United States bankrolls the operation.
The United States has signaled a shift in its approach to the security crisis in Haiti, with Washington pushing for a new international force to take over from the Kenyan-led multinational mission.
This emerged after a phone conversation on Tuesday between President William Ruto and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during which Kenya pressed for the adoption of United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ proposal for the UN to set up a support office to provide logistical backing for the Haiti mission.
Kenya currently provides the largest number of personnel for the multinational security support (MSS) force, while the United States bankrolls the operation.
Kenyan police officers were first deployed a year ago to secure key infrastructure, but since then, Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince has come close to complete gang control, with the UN warning of an escalating humanitarian crisis.
The MSS mission has struggled with shortages of personnel, equipment, intelligence and infrastructure.
In response, Guterres recommended the creation of a UN support office dedicated to strengthening the force, but he stopped short of calling for a full peacekeeping operation.
At the same time, the US is pressing the Organisation of American States (OAS) to step in and assume a leadership role, arguing that regional players must take responsibility for Haiti’s stabilisation. The US remains one of the biggest financiers of the OAS.
"The US thanks Kenya for its dedication for the last year. We must ensure that an even greater share of the international community is invested in the fight. We will also seek robust regional participation to provide strategic leadership of the force. We note the next international force must be adequately resourced," said US deputy chief of mission to the OAS, Kimberly Penland.
Rubio had already hinted at this policy direction when he appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in May.
"We are seeking to come up with an alternative strategy because Haiti is heading in a bad direction. The OAS has not led a mission since 1965. Why would we have an OAS if it cannot deal with Haiti? This is one example of something I would like us to lead on and that is to get organisations like OAS to step forward and provide a mission to deal with Haiti," stated Rubio.
If implemented, the plan would see Kenya relinquish its leadership of the MSS mission, despite its central role since deployment began.
