President William Ruto is advocating transitioning the Kenya-led security mission in Haiti into a UN peacekeeping operation over concerns about its effectiveness and sustainability. Following a phone call with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Ruto emphasized that the mission would be better able to achieve its goal of addressing Haiti’s gang violence if it morphed into a UN operation. So far, the mission has had limited impact. In fact, a recent UN report revealed that violence has intensified in the island nation, with a 22% rise in internally displaced persons between August and October. Salvador, one of the participating countries, claims the mission is ‘critically under-resourced,’ lacking sufficient manpower and equipment. For Kenya, transitioning to a UN operation would safeguard the mission’s future, especially since it is uncertain that the incoming Trump administration will continue to provide funding.
SOURCE: SEMAFOR
