The Multinational Security Support Mission to Haiti (MSS), led by Kenyan forces, has refuted reports that officers have gone unpaid for months. The MSS stated that all personnel have received their salaries and allowances, contrary to allegations of nearly 20 Kenyan officers resigning due to payment delays. The mission remains committed to supporting the Haitian National Police in combating gang violence and restoring stability.
The MSS faces challenges in addressing the violence caused by armed gangs in Haiti, with the capital of Port-au-Prince mostly under gang control and over 700,000 displaced. Funding and staffing issues have hampered the mission, with Kenya sending only a fraction of the envisioned personnel. Questions linger about continued US support for the mission, as well as calls for the UN to initiate a peacekeeping mission in Haiti.
Security in Haiti has deteriorated since the assassination of former President Jovenel Moise in 2021, with gang violence escalating despite the presence of the Kenyan force. The country struggles with establishing stable governance, with no federal elections held for years and recent instability in the transitional government. The MSS’s efforts to combat gang violence and restore stability in Haiti face scrutiny and challenges amidst ongoing security concerns and political instability.
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