NEW YORK, US
The UN Security Council on Monday night endorsed the deployment of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission to Haiti, paving the way for countries such as Kenya to send their pledged armed personnel to the Caribbean country.
The resolution, 2699/23, was
endorsed by 13 of the 15-member Council, including Africa’s representatives;
Mozambique, Ghana and Gabon and now authorises the deployment of a Mission that
had raised controversy on its legality in Kenya.
The Council passed the
resolution under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which signals the situation in
Haiti a threat to global peace and security.
Drafted by the US and endorsed
by Ecuador, it needs the validation of all permanent members of the Council,
including the US, France, UK, Russia and China.
Russia and China’s abstention
meant their stand didn’t affect the decision on the resolution, allowing
pushers like the US to enable its suggestion to pass.
African countries in the
Council; Mozambique, Gabon and Ghana, said the resolution would be an
“important stepping stone” to address the security situation in Haiti, now
under the grip of violent gangs.
“We highly praise Kenya for
offering to lead the Multinational Security Support Mission. This allows us to
move from rhetoric to action for a country whose history should lead us to
question the conscience of every one of us,” the African members known as the
A3, said in a joint statement. But they said the ultimate solution rests with
Haitians to recover their country from the grips of chaos.
“We appeal for a national
consensus aimed at an inclusive political transition,” they added.
The mission had been initially
a request from Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry who wanted his government
supported to deal with gangs that had taken control of crucial installations
like a local fuel depot.
But Haiti’s history including
five previous failed foreign interventions had raised controversy.
Russia said the deployment
under Chapter 7 had raised the bar and that the resolution needed a rethink
before final voting, even though Moscow argued it supports an intervention that
could rescue Haiti as long as there is serious thought put into it.
“We hope that the countries
involved in the Mission will hold consultations with the Haitian people,” said
a representative of China who argued that Haiti’s unstable government, if
though it actually asked for the mission, makes it risky.
In Kenya, legal experts argued
it would be unconstitutional even though the government said they were
conducting a reconnaissance to understand Haitian terrain. This would be the
first time Kenyan police would be deployed to a Caribbean country under this
arrangement.
Nairobi has said it will send
1000 police personnel and the US will fund the programme to the tune of $100
million if the Congress agrees. Canada has said it will support the programme
too although it will not be sending troops. Jamaica, Antigua and Berbuda,
Belize, Senegal, Spain, Suriname and the Bahamas are also expected to send
personnel.
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