Can A Kenyan-led Force Bring Peace To Haiti?

Amid the ongoing turmoil in Haiti, the Biden administration has pushed for the expedited deployment of a Kenyan-led security force.

Can this Kenyan-led security force bring the much-needed peace and stability to Haiti, or will it become another chapter in the troubled history of foreign interventions? Photo Credit: Brian Inganga/AP Photo/picture alliance

Amid the ongoing turmoil in Haiti, the Biden administration has pushed for the expedited deployment of a Kenyan-led security force.

Following discussions with Kenyan President William Ruto in Washington, DC, Biden pledged support for the mission, emphasizing the urgent need to stabilise Haiti.

The arguments

Analysts argue that the mission’s mandate is unclear and ineffective, which raises serious issues. Questions persist about the force’s arrest authority and how it will deal with the gangs.

Experts say Haitians’ scepticism of foreign interference is justified given previous experiences, casting doubt on whether this latest endeavour would work.

Furthermore, the deaths of the missionaries illustrate the grave danger and instability in Haiti, emphasising the need for international aid. For President Ruto, peace and security are the responsibility of all nations reinforces the argument for international intervention.

According to the United Nations and humanitarian organisations, the ongoing violence has trapped hundreds of thousands of people in horrific conditions, including many women and children.

Meanwhile, the leader of opposition party in Kenya, Thirdway Alliance, Ekuru Aukot, filed a last-minute appeal in Kenya’s High Court to the officers’ planned departure, charging contempt of court and other irregularities. Aukot argues that by deploying, the government is violating a January 2024 court judgement that deemed the police deployment to Haiti unconstitutional and illegitimate.

The facts

Kenya has pledged 1,000 police officers to the UN-backed effort aimed at fighting the gangs. The force is anticipated to grow to 2,500 people in the future, with the majority of funding coming from the United States.

However, the exact start date of the deployment remains unknown, despite prior plans to coincide with Ruto’s US visit.

On May 23, three missionaries from Missions in Haiti Inc were fatally shot by armed gunmen in Port-au-Prince. Missouri State Representative Ben Baker identified his daughter, Natalie Lloyd, and son-in-law, Davy Lloyd, as two of the victims. The third victim remains unidentified. The missionaries were dedicated to their work, with Davy Lloyd being the son of the organisation’s founders.

Port-au-Prince has been besieged by growing violence for months, mostly controlled by powerful gangs. These armed organisations have launched a series of devastating attacks, instilling fear and instability. The situation deteriorated further with President Jovenel Moise’s killing in 2021, resulting in political upheaval and an increase in gang activity.