by Alberto Galvi –
The United Nations Security Council approved with 13 votes and two abstentions (China and Russia) a resolution authorizing the deployment of a multinational force in Haiti led by Kenya. The embargo on the import of weapons into the Caribbean country has also been extended. The embargo previously applied only to designated individuals, but Haitian officials confirmed the continued influx of weapons from the United States.
Kenya volunteered to lead a multinational force of 1,000 police officers to fight violent gangs, which have become incredibly powerful and overwhelmed the police. The Bahamas have committed 150 people to the mission, but availability has also been expressed by Jamaica and Antigua. The United States will offer financial and logistical support to the effort.
Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry called for urgent action from the Council last month, saying the worsening security situation had created a humanitarian crisis and calling for a force combining police and military personnel.
The gangs carried out massacres, kidnappings, human trafficking and sexual violence. Haiti first requested such an intervention in October 2022, but neither the United States nor the United Nations was willing to lead one, and U.S. efforts to persuade Canada to do so were unsuccessful.
