UN Extends Haiti Mission for Another 12 Months After Peacekeeping Push Dropped

Members of the General Security Unit of the National Palace set up a security perimeter around one of the three downtown stations after police fought off an attack by gangs the day before, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on March 9, 2024. Odelyn Joseph/AP Photo

The 15 member countries on the U.N. Security Council have voted unanimously to renew each member state’s Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) to Haiti for another 12 months, without changing the funding structure for the security forces.

Haiti has called for the MSS to be transformed into a peacekeeping operation to boost its capabilities and secure more stable funding, a proposal the United States and Ecuador were helping to lead on behalf of Haiti, which is not a member of the council.

At the moment, the MSS is funded through voluntary contributions; a peacekeeping mission would mandate funding for the operation.

In an Oct. 1 press conference, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said resolution 2751, “reaffirms the need” to advance toward a process that holds “free and fair legislative and presidential elections.”

“Today’s unanimous adoption builds on the recent announcement of new U.N. sanctions listings, and we encourage the Haiti Sanctions Committee to take further steps to hold accountable those responsible for fueling gang violence,” Thomas-Greenfield said.

The new resolution extends the current mandate of the MSS mission, as provided for in Resolution 2699 (2023), to include robust language and clear provisions on human rights, sexual and gender-based violence, oversight, accountability, and the protection of children. It also has provisions for a review after nine months.

More Support for MSS Mission Needed

Thomas-Greenfield said the Kenyan-led MSS has made “tangible progress” since the first contingent of 400 police officers from Kenya arrived on June 25, followed by a second group of 200 officers on July 16.

However, she said more is needed as the country faces a “prolonged crisis aggravated by the activities of criminal gangs” and their violent attacks on the civilian population. Initially, the mission was expected to have 2,500 officers from several countries.

“First, additional financial contributions are urgently needed to support the MSS mission, and this resolution encourages voluntary contributions for support of the mission,” Thomas-Greenfield said.

“As President Leblanc called for before the General Assembly, transitioning the MSS into a U.N. peacekeeping operation will further enhance stability by providing more reliable funding and expanding its capabilities.”

The United States and Ecuador initially sought to include language about a peacekeeping operation to be funded through member states’ assessed contributions. China and Russia opposed the effort to transform the MSS into a peacekeeping mission. Both countries are permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and hold veto power.

China and Russia Opposed Shift to Peacekeeping Mission

China’s delegate argued that discussing other options, such as a peacekeeping mission, would interfere with the MSS’s mandate of helping to modernize Haiti’s armed forces and establish a new police force.

The Russian representative made a similar argument, saying until the MSS expands its presence and achieves its goals to counter organized crime in the country, “it is premature to plan any transformations in the international presence.”

Ultimately, the resolution was amended to remove a possible peacekeeping effort.

Thomas-Greenfield said that while the resolution is for a year, with a nine-month review, the council will continue to engage on how it “bolster[s] and sustain[s] this effort over time.”

Violence in the country escalated significantly after Prime Minister Ariel Henry came to power in 2021 following the assassination of former Haitian President Jovenel Moïse. Henry postponed elections in the country, governing without a constitutional mandate or any other elected officials until he resigned in April.

Haiti declared a state of emergency on March 3 as instances of home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and murder increased beyond what local police could deal with. The U.N. said in a June report that gang violence in Haiti had reached “alarming levels.”

In May, a transitional council appointed interim Prime Minister Garry Conille to lead the country.