UN Deploys Multinational Force to Counter Gang Violence in Haiti.

In response to the persistent gang violence in Haiti, the United Nations Security Council has resolved to deploy a multinational force in the beleaguered Caribbean nation. The resolution was passed on Monday, with an overwhelming 13 members voting in favour of a Kenya-led mission to Haiti. China and Russia, the remaining two council members, abstained due to anxiety about Haiti's fraught history with foreign interventions.

Gang violence has seen a significant uptick in Haiti over the past year, posing a severe security threat and causing increasing alarm internationally. This has led the Haitian Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, to repeatedly seek international assistance. According to the UN, gang violence has forced approximately 200,000 residents to desert their homes and has claimed the lives of 3,000 individuals in 2022 alone. Further, about 1,500 people have been kidnapped for ransom, and a staggering 5.2 million people – nearly half of Haiti’s population - are in dire need of humanitarian aid.

The escalating insecurity was exacerbated last month when infamous gang leader, Jimmy "Barbecue" Chérizier, disclosed plans to overthrow PM Henry's government, leading to increased concerns regarding Haitian stability. In response to this spiraling violence, the UN has sanctioned the formation and one-year deployment of a Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, charged with bolstering the Haitian police, safeguarding crucial infrastructure, and restoring security. This mission's effectiveness will be reviewed after nine months.

Kenya, Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Antigua and Barbuda have pledged support and manpower to aid this mission, a move that has been met with mixed reviews. While the Haitian government appreciates the international aid, human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have decried Kenya's involvement due to its alleged misuse of force within its borders. Furthermore, given Haiti's past experiences with UN peacekeepers, many Haitians remain skeptical of UN intervention.

Nevertheless, the UN resolution has generally been met with approval. Prime Minister Ariel, for instance, called it a "glimmer of hope", imploring nations to participate as swiftly as possible. Furthermore, global authorities such as US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan emphasized that this move, whilst pivotal, is just the beginning of a long journey towards restoring peace and security in Haiti.