Haiti Faces Surge in Gang Violence as International Force Deployment Vote Approaches
Haiti is grappling with a significant surge in gang violence, prompting the United Nations Security Council to schedule a vote on the deployment of an international force. The violence has hindered the country’s ability to hold long-delayed elections and maintain security. As the situation worsens, the U.N. resolution, drafted by the United States and obtained by The Associated Press, welcomes Kenya’s offer to lead a multinational security force. This non-U.N. force would be financed through voluntary contributions.
The resolution, if passed, would authorize the international force for a span of one year, with a review process after nine months. The main objective of the force would be to provide operational support to Haiti’s underfunded and overwhelmed National Police, which currently has only roughly 10,000 active officers for a population of more than 11 million. The international force would also assist in building the capacity of the local police by coordinating joint security support operations, countering gang activities, and improving overall security conditions in Haiti.
One crucial role of the force would be to secure critical infrastructure sites and transit locations such as airports, ports, and key intersections. Powerful gangs have taken control of vital roads connecting the capital to the northern and southern parts of the country, disrupting the transportation of essential goods and compromising the nation’s stability.
The adoption of the resolution by the Security Council would grant the international force the authority to take necessary and urgent temporary measures to prevent loss of life and assist the police in maintaining public safety. Before a full deployment, leaders of the mission will have to present their goals, rules of engagement, financial requirements, and other relevant matters to the council for review.
Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s spokesperson stated that the government was not aware of the upcoming vote or the resolution and could not immediately provide a comment.
The resolution strongly condemns the increasing violence, criminal activities, human rights abuses, and violations that undermine peace, stability, and security in Haiti and the wider region. This includes incidents of kidnapping, sexual and gender-based violence, human trafficking, homicides, extrajudicial killings, and arms smuggling.
If approved, this would be the first time a force has been deployed to Haiti since the U.N.’s stabilization mission in 2004, which was marred by a sexual abuse scandal and the subsequent cholera outbreak. The resolution is mindful of the concerns raised about the proposed Kenyan-led mission, acknowledging the history of accusations against Kenyan police regarding torture, excessive use of force, and other abuses. Therefore, the resolution emphasizes the necessity for all participants in the mission to take measures to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse, vet all personnel, and promptly investigate any allegations of misconduct.
In addition to the security aspects, the resolution highlights the importance of wastewater management and other environmental control measures to prevent the introduction and spread of water-borne diseases like cholera.
The size of the force, if approved, has not been specified, though Kenya’s government previously proposed sending 1,000 police officers. Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Antigua and Barbuda have also pledged to contribute personnel. The U.S. administration, under President Joe Biden, recently committed to providing logistics support and $100 million to aid the Kenyan-led force.
Alongside the deployment discussions, the resolution reveals the Security Council’s intention to impose additional sanctions on Jimmy Chérizier, known as Barbecue, who leads Haiti’s largest gang alliance. Chérizier, a former police officer, has recently issued warnings that he will resist any armed force suspected of abuses.
Almost a year after Haiti’s prime minister and top government officials requested immediate foreign armed force deployment, the country continues to grapple with violent gangs that reportedly control around 80% of Port-au-Prince, the nation’s capital. Disturbing statistics from the United Nations state that from January to mid-August, over 2,400 people have been killed, more than 950 kidnapped, and 902 injured in Haiti. The violence has also displaced over 200,000 people, many of whom reside in makeshift shelters after their communities were pillaged by gangs.
The proposed resolution aims to address the ongoing crisis and restore security in Haiti, facilitating the government’s efforts to maintain stability, strengthen law enforcement, and ultimately hold the long-overdue elections.
