Kenya's President William Ruto Visits Haiti to Discuss UN Peacekeeping Efforts

Kenyan President William Ruto visited Haiti on Saturday amid ongoing discussions at the United Nations about supporting a peacekeeping mission. This mission involves Kenyan and Jamaican forces struggling to manage gang violence in the Caribbean nation. Ruto's arrival was marked by a brief ceremony at the airport, where he was greeted by armed officers and other officials before heading to a Kenyan base to meet with police tackling the gangs.

Kenya was the first country to deploy forces as part of a broader UN initiative to aid Haiti, which has faced escalating conflict and political instability since President Jovenel Moise's assassination in 2021. Currently, around 400 Kenyan police are stationed in Haiti. Earlier this month, approximately two dozen police and soldiers from Jamaica also arrived. However, the United States and other nations have expressed concerns that these forces are insufficient and lack the necessary resources to combat gangs controlling about 80% of Port-au-Prince.

International Support and Challenges

The peacekeeping mission aims to include 2,500 personnel, with additional contributions expected from countries like the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, and Chad. However, the timeline for these deployments remains unclear. The idea of a UN peacekeeping force has been suggested by the US but is considered controversial due to past issues involving cholera outbreaks and sexual abuse cases linked to previous UN troops in Haiti.

A UN human rights expert recently highlighted that gang violence is spreading across Haiti. The expert noted that Haiti's National Police still lack the "logistical and technical capacity" needed to effectively combat these gangs, which continue to expand their control over new areas.

Political Developments in Haiti

Ruto's visit coincides with Haiti's recent establishment of a provisional electoral council. This move has been long requested by the international community to facilitate the country's first general election since 2016. Many hope that holding elections will help restore order in Haiti alongside the peacekeeping efforts.

In the power vacuum left by Moise's assassination, gangs have gained more influence. There is widespread hope that a general election will contribute to stabilising Haiti while complementing the ongoing peacekeeping mission.