Kenya’s leadership of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM) in Haiti is facing new criticism after Brazil’s President Inácio Lula da Silva questioned its progress. Speaking in Brasília, Lula said the mission is weak and underfunded, urging the UN to either provide more resources or turn it into a full UN peacekeeping operation.
He said Haiti cannot return to stability or hold elections unless the mission is strengthened.Kenya leads the mission, supported by forces from Jamaica, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, and the Bahamas. Although the UN manages the funding, it depends on voluntary contributions.
So far, $96.8 million has been pledged, but most of it has not been released. Kenya has already spent Ksh2.1 billion of its own money, causing public concern.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei responded by saying the funds will be reimbursed through a UN trust fund, which is the usual process.
Many countries, including France, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti, have called for the mission to be upgraded to a UN peacekeeping force. Kenya also supports this. Monica Juma, Ruto’s National Security Advisor, told the UN Security Council that such a move would ensure more funding and broader support.
The U.S. agrees, but Russia and China, who have veto powers, are against it, blocking any transition.Beyond the money problems, Kenya’s mission in Haiti is struggling with poor equipment and management issues. Kenyan officers have reportedly said they lack the tools to deal with the violent gangs.
There are also claims of friction between the Kenyan team and Haiti’s National Police, though the Kenyan government denies any such problems.The situation in Haiti continues to get worse, and the mission is falling short of expectations.
With more world leaders speaking out, pressure is growing on Kenya and the UN to either fix the current setup or replace it with something more effective.
