The multinational security support mission in Haiti has ended. The last contingent of Kenyan police officers left the country this Monday.
Approved by the UN Security Council in October 2023, the mission was intended to support the Haitian National Police in its fight against gangs in the country.
From the outset, it faced numerous delays, funding shortfalls, and operational difficulties that limited its impact.
The deployment was initially blocked by legal challenges in Nairobi before Kenyan courts removed the obstacle.
Kenya had pledged to provide approximately 1,000 officers, but fewer than 800 were deployed. The force was ultimately intended to number 2,500 troops, but never came close to that figure.
Funding was also a hurdle. Of an estimated annual budget of $600 million, only about $400 million was secured, primarily from the United States. The mission found itself lacking the equipment and logistical support necessary to achieve its objectives.
It will be replaced by a new multinational initiative, the Gang Suppression Force, approved by the United Nations Security Council last fall.
