On Friday, March 1st, a landmark agreement was signed between Kenya and Haiti, marking a significant step in international cooperation for peacekeeping efforts. Under this “reciprocal” agreement, Kenya will deploy police officers to lead a United Nations-backed law and order mission in Haiti, a nation currently grappling with severe gang violence. This initiative, announced by Kenyan President William Ruto, aims to fast-track the deployment process, although it remains unclear how this agreement will navigate a January court ruling in Nairobi that deemed the deployment “unconstitutional.”
The agreement was signed amidst a backdrop of escalating violence in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, where gang-related activities have forced the closure of businesses and schools and led to flight cancellations. Kenya’s commitment to providing up to 1,000 personnel for the mission was previously welcomed by the United States and other nations, which have refrained from deploying their own forces to the ground. The Nairobi court’s concern was the lack of a reciprocal agreement between the two countries, a hurdle that this new agreement aims to overcome.
President Ruto, alongside Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry, witnessed the signing of the agreement in Nairobi. Ruto expressed Kenya’s dedication to contributing to the mission’s success, emphasizing the global significance of peace in Haiti. In a statement, President Ruto said, “I take this opportunity to reiterate Kenya’s commitment to contribute to the success of this multi-national mission. We believe this is a historic duty because peace in Haiti is good for the world as a whole.”
The UN Security Council had approved the mission in early October, but Kenya’s involvement faced legal challenges domestically, casting doubt on the future of the multinational force that Haiti’s government has long sought to combat violence that has resulted in nearly 5,000 deaths.
The turmoil in Haiti, the Western hemisphere’s poorest nation, has seen armed gangs overtaking parts of the country, unleashing brutal violence that has devastated the economy and public health system. The situation has been further complicated by political instability, with Haiti currently having no elected officials. Prime Minister Henry, who assumed office with international support following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021, was supposed to transfer power to elected officials by February 7th of this year, a transition that has yet to occur.
This agreement between Kenya and Haiti represents a hopeful step towards addressing the dire situation in Haiti, offering a model for international cooperation in peacekeeping efforts. However, the deployment’s success and its impact on Haiti’s complex socio-political landscape remain to be seen.
