PREVIEW
Despite assurances, the Kenya-led operation faces uncertainty due to funding issues and the need for UN support
The long-term status of the Kenya-led police mission to combat gang warfare in Haiti remains under threat, despite President William Ruto and United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirming that it ‘remains fully operational’.
Ruto indicated that the US had exempted the mission from the 90-day pause in aid spending imposed by US President Donald Trump on 20 January, following a call with Rubio on 6 February.
However, beyond confirming that the mission will continue, the State Department has not confirmed the exemption.
Kenyan officials say that only around US$15 million in US funding for the mission was frozen. Additionally, 144 Kenyan police were deployed to Haiti last week.
Also last week, Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi confirmed that donor countries had secured $110m, which, he said would sustain operations through at least September 2025.
Though some in Nairobi have questioned why the Ruto government is increasing the deployment despite continued threats to its financial support, Foreign Ministry officials say that they are negotiating for the mission to be taken over by the United Nations, which would give it access to statutory UN funding. Ruto has previously promised to expand Kenya’s police deployment to 1,000 but only if the US – the largest single donor – and others pay the funds they have promised for the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti (Dispatches 15/10/24, More cops will be sent but cash is needed). The MSS has an estimated annual budget of $600m.
The slow disbursement of funds has been blamed for lengthy delays in paying officers in Haiti, with some complaining of going without pay for up to two months. This prompted reports that over 20 officers had tendered their resignations in protest (Dispatches 10/12/24, No pay, no way).
On 7 February, the MSS announced it had received three helicopters assigned to assist in evacuating the wounded.
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