UN DK Gives Green Light Security Mission In Haiti To Fight Gangs

Riots in Haiti. (Wikimedia Commons/Voice of America)

JAKARTA - The United Nations Security Council on Monday allowed foreign security missions to Haiti, a year after the Caribbean nation asked for help fighting a gang that mostly controls the capital, Port-au-Prince.

"More than just a simple vote, this is actually an expression of solidarity with the people who are in trouble," Haitian Foreign Minister Jean Victor Geneus told the council.

"This is a glimmer of hope for people who have suffered for too long," he said

The 15-member council adopted a resolution, designed by the United States and Ecuador, which authorized the Multinational Security Support mission "to take all necessary measures", a code for the use of force.

China and Russia abstained in the vote, fearing it would allow a thorough use of force based on Chapter 7 of the UN Charter. While the other 13 members voted in favor.

"We have taken action to create new ways in maintaining global peace and security, responding repeatedly to calls from member countries to face a multi-dimensional crisis amid increasing gang violence," said senior US diplomat Jeffrey De happeneds.

The Security Council is also expanding the UN arms embargo that includes all gangs, a move China wants. Haitian officials say the weapons used by the gangs are believed to be mostly imported from the United States. Embargo previously only applied to certain individuals.

"This is a very important decision. If the council took this step earlier, the security situation in Haiti might not worsen as it is today," Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Zhang Jun told the council after the vote.

It is known that the response to Haiti's request for assistance was delayed due to difficulty finding a country that was willing to lead a security aid mission.

Kenya stepped forward in July promising 1,000 police. The Bahamas then committed 150 people, while Jamaica and Antigua and Barbuda were also willing to help.

After the council's approval on Monday, it was not clear how quickly the troops could be deployed.

"Today's vote is just the first step. Now, efforts to start the mission are starting," US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement.

While not sending any troops, the US Government hopes to provide $100 million to support the multinational mission with logistical and financial assistance, which could include intelligence, air transportation, communications and medical support.

Countries are cautious in supporting Prime Minister Ariel Henry's administration which is not going through an election process, which says fair elections cannot be held with the current insecurity conditions. Haiti also has no lawmakers since January.

The Security Council stressed "urgent needs" for Haiti to make progress towards "transparent, inclusive and credible election processes, as well as free and fair elections."

Despite being approved by the UN Security Council, the security assistance mission was not a UN operation.

It is known that the UN peacekeeping force was deployed to Haiti in 2004, after an uprising that led to the overthrow and exile of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. The peacekeeping force came out in 2017 and was replaced by the UN police, who came out in 2019.

Meanwhile, the people of Haiti are wary of the presence of UN troops. The Caribbean nation was moderately free until 2010, when UN peacekeeping forces dumped the infected waste into the river. More than 9,000 people died from this disease and about 800,000 people fell ill.

The council's resolution adopted on Monday called on countries taking part in the security mission "to implement proper wastewater management and control of other environments, to prevent entry and spread of water-transmitted diseases.