The Urgent Situation in Haiti: A Call for Action

Port-au-Prince, January 18, 2025 – As the clock ticks down, with merely ten days left before the mandate of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti comes to an end, alarm bells are ringing among UN officials regarding the deepening crisis in this Caribbean nation. The stakes are incredibly high. If decisive actions aren’t taken to renew and fortify this crucial mission, particularly in support of the Kenya-led Multi-National Security Support (MSS) force, Haiti teeters on the brink of total state collapse.

What does it mean to say a country risks collapse? Picture this: once vibrant streets that have become mere corridors of fear, ruled by gangs that are tightening their grip on the capital. While Kenya has attempted to highlight their progress—showcasing a year’s worth of their police deployment as part of the MSS—UN officials present a grim counter-narrative. Their reports unveil the reality of Port-au-Prince, where a peacekeeping force remains dangerously under-equipped to instigate any substantial pushback.

Ambassador Yabesh Monari, Deputy Permanent Representative at the UN, painted a picture of both hope and despair. “We have a government in place,” he declared. “Hospitals have been reopened, and we’ve secured crucial locations like the presidential palace, the international airport, and sea port.” Yet, his words were laced with concern, acknowledging that “without adequate resourcing,” the mission’s effectiveness would be limited—if not fleeting.

Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, has echoed these sentiments, cautioning that without substantial support, the MSS mission’s impact on Haiti’s security landscape stands to be short-lived. The crux of the matter rests in a shocking observation made by Miroslav Jenča, the Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia, and the Americas. He noted, “We have continued to witness a sharp erosion of state authority and the rule of law.” With gangs paralyzing life in the capital and isolating it from crucial international connections, the question arises: how did it come to this?

Consider that organized criminal groups now command nearly total control over the capital, with an estimated 90 percent of Port-au-Prince under their influence. Ghada Waly, Director-General of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, expressed serious concerns about the state of affairs: “Despite the valiant efforts of the MSS and the Haitian National Police, they’ve been unable to restore state authority. Without additional support from the international community, the outlook is bleak.” This statement leaves one pondering the implications of international neglect—how many individuals and families are caught in the tempest of such inaction?

In February, Guterres penned a poignant letter to the Security Council, emphasizing the MSS’s reliance on external donors for crucial supplies. Alarmingly, many of their armored vehicles are ill-suited for the urban environment of Port-au-Prince, and a dire shortage of spare parts has rendered half of their combat vehicles inoperative. The lack of adequate air support, communication systems, and intelligence capabilities further compromises the mission’s effectiveness. As Monari lamented, “Without forward operating bases, the gangs come back.” Yet, of the planned twelve forward operating bases, only three exist, and instead of the intended deployment of 2,500 officers, just 991 are currently on the ground—735 of whom are from Kenya.

Kenya finds itself navigating an exceptionally complex environment. “We are observing a worrying increase in the number and activities of private security companies and vigilante self-defense groups,” noted Jenča. This raises an essential question: what role should the international community play in restoring order? As the narrative unfolds, the United States, under former President Donald Trump, signaled that it cannot continue to bear the financial burden of the mission indefinitely. With the clock ticking, decisions about the adoption of Guterres’ proposal for a UN support office loom large, poised to determine whether logistical and operational support will finally materialize.

This situation challenges our collective humanity. What would you do if your city was overrun by gangs? If essential services failed, leaving you helpless? These questions weigh heavily on the hearts of the Haitian people, and they remind us all of our shared vulnerabilities and responsibilities. As the UN deliberates, the need for actionable strategies becomes urgent. “We are operating at less than 30 percent of capacity,” Monari affirmed, underscoring the significant gap between necessity and reality.

In the face of such overwhelming odds, it becomes imperative that this dialogue translates into concrete guidance on the future of the MSS. It is only with clear direction that Kenya—and indeed, the international community—can make informed decisions about their ongoing commitments.

As we stand on the precipice of potential disaster, the time for decisive action is now. The voices of the Haitian people demand to be heard, echoing the timeless words of Edmund Burke: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” And so, what will you do?

Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.