Haiti’s Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, is set to travel to Nairobi, Kenya, to finalize details for the deployment of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS), authorized by the UN to help stabilize the crisis-stricken Caribbean nation.
The announcement was made by the prime minister’s office although the precise date of the visit was not specified. Henry’s visit will come after his attendance at the Ordinary Meeting of Heads of State and Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), which concludes on February 28.
The Caricom meeting agenda includes discussions on the involvement of Caribbean countries in the deployment of the multinational mission. The UN Security Council authorized this mission in 2023, responding to Henry’s request in October 2022 to address the armed gangs controlling 80% of the capital.
The international force will be led by the Government of Kenya, but the deployment has faced delays due to legal challenges in Kenyan courts.
Initially planned for this month, the deployment was delayed following a court ruling in January that blocked the government’s authority to send police officers abroad. The government has filed a notice to appeal the High Court’s decision.
President William Ruto has however characterized the deployment as a “mission for humanity,” aligning with Kenya’s history of contributing to United Nations peacekeeping missions worldwide.
Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021, Haiti has faced increased instability, with no elections held since 2016 and the presidency remaining vacant. Kenyan police are envisioned to work alongside Haitian counterparts to address the challenge posed by gangs, which outnumber and outgun local law enforcement.
