"Haiti, through the Haitian National Police, will have overall control over the field operations of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MMS).
This clarification was made by the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) in a statement published on Tuesday May 21, 2024, at the end of a working session with the High Staff of the Haitian National Police (PNH)..
The composition, objectives, rules of engagement and health control of the troops will all be coordinated and supervised by the Haitian police authorities," they emphasized.
The MSS, created by United-Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution 2699, is due to be deployed in Haiti before the end of May 2024.
At the meeting held on Tuesday May 21, 2024, the TPC discussed the operationalization of the MSS with the PNH's acting director general Frantz Elbé and other members of the PNH's leadership.
The deployment of a MSS in Haiti was authorized by the United Nations Security Council on Monday, October 2, 2023.
It follows a request for assistance, made on Friday October 7, 2022, by the de facto government of Ariel Henry.
The Miami Herald reported that a delegation of Kenyan officials arrived in Haiti on Monday, May 20, 2024, as part of an assessment of preparations for the MSS in the country.
This first assessment team is responsible for inspecting the construction of the base will host the MSS, not far from Port-au-Prince international airport. International and domestic airline flights have been cancelled following assaults by armed bandits since Thursday February 29, 2024.
The Miami Herald also reported that the delegation is expected to remain in Haiti throughout the week and take part in several meetings, including with the Haitian National Police and the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH).
The next commander of the MSS is part of this delegation.
The first Kenyan contingent is expected to consist of a few hundred police officers and support staff, according to sources quoted by Miami Herald.
The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Jamaica, Belize, Benin, Chad and Kenya have officially notified UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres of their intention to provide MSS with personnel to combat armed gangs in Haiti.
From January to March 2024, more than 2,500 people, including at least 82 children, were killed or injured as a result of gang violence, according to the UN.
Translated and edited for clarity by CHIP editors
Posted June 9, 2024