Haiti Mission: How UN Security Council voted for Kenya, others

On Monday, the members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council voted in favour of Kenya to lead the peace and security restoration mission in Haiti. 

This marks the historical resolution that now allows a non-UN multinational force to the Carribean country to combat gangs. 

Out of 15 Council members, 13 were in favor of Kenya leading the mission in Haiti while Russia and China gave the exercise a wide berth.

Voting was through a recorded vote. This vote is considered to be a vote by the yeas and nays when taken in the House.

On abstention, the Russian Federation said it must be understood that sending armed forces of another state to any country even on its request is a measure that must be thoroughly thought through.

"During the planning and preparation of the correspondents, our justified request for details and more information about the concept of operations about the use of armed forces went unanswered," Vasily Nebenzya, Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations said.

Ambassador and Permanent Representative of China Zhang Jun noted that his country has always taken a cautious and responsible approach to the Council’s invocation of Chapter VII of the UN Charter on the authorization of the use of force.

“We hope that the country leading the Multinational Security Support mission will hold in-depth consultations with Haiti on their specific arrangements for the deployment of security forces,” he said. 

Kenya has committed to send its 1,000 troops to Haiti, while The Bahamas will send 150. Jamaica, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda have also committed to the mission. 

Kenya will now deploy its force to Haiti by January 2024.

The ambassadors authorised the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to help secure critical infrastructure and transit hubs such as the airport, ports, schools, hospitals and key intersections.

"They also called on countries participating in the mission to ensure the highest standards of transparency, conduct, and discipline for their personnel," a statement by the Security Council stated. 

"They called for an oversight mechanism to prevent human rights violations or abuses, including sexual exploitation."

Haiti Foreign Minister Jean Victor Geneus said the go-ahead of the security council showed an expression of solidarity with a population in distress. 

"The resolution is a glimmer of hope for the Haitian people that have for too long suffered the consequences of a multipronged crisis," he added.

Geneus urged Member States to commit to the mission as quickly as possible to help restore a safe and stable environment and re-establish democratic institutions there.

The news of Kenya offering its troops to Haiti received criticism from locals in the country including heads of organisations, terming the mice as a 'suspicious political adventure' 

"Did the Kenyan government take the necessary time, like other countries already contacted in this regard, to reflect on the political significance and disastrous consequences of such a completely suspect adventure?" the organisations said in a letter addressed to the Africa Union. 

More than 200,000 nationals have also been displaced as their homes were destroyed by the gang. 

In the first three months of 2023, it was reported that more than 850 people were killed by the gang, adding up to thousands of others who have died since the beginning of the unrest. 

According to the United Nations, a total of 1,359 were kidnapped in 2022. This it said was more than double recorded in 2021.