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Representatives from Haiti, the United States, and Kenya concluded a critical planning conference for the long-awaited Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) on Wednesday. This mission aims to assist Haitian police in tackling the escalating gang violence gripping the nation. However, the exact date of deployment remains shrouded in uncertainty, raising concerns about the mission’s ability to address the worsening crisis.
A major hurdle emerged last month when a Kenyan high court ruled that deploying 1,000 Kenyan police officers to Haiti would be unconstitutional due to the absence of a formal police-sharing agreement between the two nations. While the Kenyan government vowed to appeal, this decision threw the mission’s timeline into disarray.
Despite this setback, the recent conference yielded some positive results. Haiti and Kenya worked on finalizing a memorandum of understanding, addressing the court’s concerns and paving the way for Kenyan officer deployment. Additionally, Haiti signed a cooperation agreement with the U.S. to establish a joint investigative unit, bolstering information exchange and transnational crime-fighting efforts.
However, the mission still faces significant challenges. Funding remains a major obstacle, with the estimated cost exceeding $500 million for two years. Additionally, Haiti’s volatile political climate, lacking elected officials and plagued by protests, complicates the mission’s implementation.
Meanwhile, the situation in Haiti continues to deteriorate. Gang violence has claimed over 3,400 lives in the past four months, with January marking the deadliest month in two years. Children are disproportionately affected, with UNICEF reporting over 170,000 displaced children and numerous incidents of violence against minors.
The US continues to urge Haiti’s leaders to forge a political consensus and pave the way for elections, crucial for long-term stability.
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