Kenyan President Ruto and US President Biden Discuss Multinational Police Force for Haiti

Kenyan President William Ruto met with US President Joe Biden at the White House to discuss a Kenyan-led multinational police force aimed at combating armed gangs in Haiti. The US has pledged $360 million in support of the mission, which seeks to restore peace and security in the crisis-stricken Caribbean nation.

Why this matters: The deployment of a multinational police force to Haiti has significant implications for global security and cooperation, demonstrating a unified effort to address a pressing crisis. The success of this mission could set a precedent for future international collaborations in combating regional instability.

The meeting marked a significant development in the partnership between Kenya and the United States. During the three-day state visit, President Biden designated Kenya as a major non-NATO ally, recognizing the country's growing role in global security efforts. This designation allows Kenya to obtain more sophisticated weaponry from the US and engage in closer security cooperation.

Approximately 1,000 Kenyan police officers are set to arrive in Haiti soon as part of a UN-led effort to address the security crisis. Other countries, including the Bahamas, Barbados, Benin, Chad, and Bangladesh, are expected to support the Kenyan forces. The deployment aims to quell gang violence that has forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee the capital and has led to the control of key infrastructure by armed groups.

Kenyan officers will be joined by forces from Chile, Jamaica, Grenada, Paraguay, Burundi, Chad, Nigeria, and Mauritius. The first group of Kenyan officers, from an elite paramilitary unit, has already landed in Port-au-Prince, with another 200 officers due to arrive later this week.

The Biden administration has welcomed Kenya's decision to send police forces to Haiti, hailing it as a show of global leadership. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan stated that the US is 'firmly committed to supporting' the mission.

The gangs in Haiti have evolved since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, becoming better equipped, funded, trained, and unified. They have gained control over key infrastructure, including police stations and seaports, and have forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee the capital. Western diplomats and officials warn that these gangs pose a significant threat to the incoming police force and the fragile transitional council.

William O'Neill, the United Nations-appointed human rights expert for Haiti, noted that the gangs have diversified their income streams. 'The gangs had been making their money from kidnappings and extortion and from payouts from politicians during elections and the business elites in between,' he said.

The deployment of the Kenyan-led police force comes after a meeting between Kenyan President William Ruto and US President Joe Biden at the White House, where they discussed the multinational police force and the US pledged $360 million in support to restore peace and security in Haiti.

The re-opening of Haiti's main international airport is seen as a sign of progress, with American carriers expected to resume flights there 'in the days ahead.' US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned that Haiti is 'on the precipice of becoming an all-out failed state,' emphasizing the urgency of the mission.

Kenyan President Ruto's decision to send police forces to Haiti is seen as an unprecedented undertaking and a show of global leadership by Kenya. The US has partnered with Kenya on counterterrorism efforts in Africa, including battling the extremist group al-Shabab, and Kenya's participation in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group underscores its growing role in global security.

The collaboration between Kenya and the US to address the crisis in Haiti demonstrates a significant step in international cooperation. With the deployment set to begin soon, the world watches as this multinational effort aims to bring stability to a nation in turmoil.

Key Takeaways

• Kenya to lead multinational police force in Haiti to combat armed gangs.
• US pledges $360 million in support of the mission.
• Kenya designated as major non-NATO ally, allowing for closer security cooperation.
• 1,000 Kenyan police officers to arrive in Haiti soon, joined by forces from 9 other countries.
• Deployment aims to restore peace and security in crisis-stricken Haiti.