By Emem Ekanem
In the web of international affairs, where diplomacy and crisis management converge, Kenya finds itself at the crossroads of a decision that could reshape the trajectory of a nation mired in chaos. The United Nations Security Council, in a move of global significance, granted Kenya the pivotal role of leading a multinational effort to address the epidemic of violent gangs ravaging the Caribbean jewel, Haiti.
However, the much-anticipated deployment hangs in the balance as Kenya, with an air of caution, voices its reluctance to send its police officers into the crucible of Haitian unrest without the assurance of comprehensive training and adequate funding. A nation’s involvement teeters on the fulcrum of preparedness, a sentiment echoed by Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki before the Parliamentary Committee on Administration and Internal Security.
“Unless all resources are mobilized and availed, our troops will not leave the country,” Minister Kindiki declared, underscoring the imperative nature of assembling the necessary arsenal to combat the tumult in Haiti. While member states of the United Nations scramble to secure resources and outline avenues for funding, the precise timeline for the comprehensive training and financing required for the deployment remains an elusive variable.
In a digital proclamation, Minister Kindiki sought to assuage concerns about the potential impact on Kenya’s domestic security apparatus, affirming that the dispatch of National Police Service Officers to Haiti would not compromise their ability to fulfil their duty back home. He asserted, “Deployment of National Police Service Officers to Haiti will neither compromise nor undermine the capacity and capability of the service to fulfil its mandate to secure citizens and their property.”
Yet, as Kenya grapples with the intricacies of preparing for an international mission, Haiti plunges deeper into a maelstrom of violence. The Superior Court of Auditors and Administrative Disputes in Haiti reported a distressing incident where five of its staff members were abducted in the capital, Port-au-Prince. The aftermath saw the organization suspending all hearings temporarily. In a poignant statement, the court expressed its hope for the swift release of the civil servants who, due to insufficient salaries, found themselves unable to meet the financial demands of their captors.
This week, the International Organization for Migration, a branch of the United Nations, provided a stark update on the escalating crisis in the coastal town of Mariani, west of the capital. Approximately 2,500 individuals were forced to flee as gangs disrupted once-peaceful communities. The ripple effect has been profound, with an estimated 200,000 Haitians displaced as gangs seize control of rival-operated neighbourhoods. The fallout has resulted in makeshift settlements characterized by overcrowded and unhygienic conditions.
Against the backdrop of this turmoil, the United Nations Children’s agency paints a grim picture of a nation grappling with food shortages. Almost five million Haitians are now facing the harrowing consequences of gang violence, which has disrupted essential supply chains. The period from July 1 to September 30 witnessed over 1,230 reported homicides and 701 recorded kidnappings, surpassing last year’s figures for the same period, according to the United Nations.
Haiti’s National Police, facing not only a personnel shortage but also the grim reality of inadequate funding, stands consistently overpowered by emboldened gangs. The toll is starkly evident in the sacrifices made by the force, with two additional police officers losing their lives in October alone. The grim tally for this year stands at 32 officers killed, a staggering statistic reported by a beleaguered police union.
The convoluted path towards intervention took an unexpected turn over a year ago when Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry initially sought the prompt deployment of international military force. It wasn’t until early October, however, that the United Nations Security Council approved the dispatch of a multinational force to Haiti. Notably, this deployment comes with a unique funding structure, relying on voluntary contributions rather than United Nations resources.
Pierre Esperance, the executive director of the Haitian National Human Rights Defense Network, casts a sceptical eye on the potential impact of Kenyan forces should the deployment materialize. His concern centres on the prevailing absence of a functioning government and the rule of law in Haiti. The collapse of crucial state institutions, including the police, raises a pertinent question: How can a foreign force operate effectively in Haiti without a functional government?
Esperance’s words resonate as a sobering reminder of the intricate challenges entwining the Haitian crisis. The persistent connection between Haiti’s government and gangs further complicates the situation, pointing to a web of complexities that transcends borders and mandates.
As Kenya grapples with its decision amid the ever-shifting sands of the Haitian dilemma, the world watches, poised on the precipice of a pivotal moment that could either be a lifeline for Haiti or a testament to the formidable challenges inherent in international intervention. The echoes of this unfolding drama may reverberate far beyond the shores of the Caribbean, shaping the contours of future responses to crises that transcend geographical boundaries.
