President William Ruto has revealed that he had a conversation with the United States (US) Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the developments in Haiti following the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
Ruto in a statement on March 13, 2024, noted that Blinken briefed him on the decision by the United States and other partners concerning the political situation in the Carribean country.
“Had a telephone conversation with United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the developments in Haiti. Blinken briefed me on the decision of the Summit of Caribbean Countries (CARICOM) and the US, together with other partners, on the political situation in Haiti,” read part of the statement.
The head of State said Blinken informed him that a new Presidential Council will be formed shortly to manage the situation in the country.
Ruto on way Forward
President Ruto further noted that he assured Secretary Blinken that Kenya will take leadership of the UN Security Support Mission in Haiti to restore peace and security in Haiti as soon as the Presidential Council is in place under an agreed process.
Also Read: Kenya Gives Way Foward on Police Deployment to Haiti After PM Exit
The discussions came after the government halted the deployment of police officers to the country which was part of a mission meant to tame gang crimes in the troubled Carribean nation.
Principal Secretary (PS) for Foreign Affairs Korir Sing’oei, revealed that the deployment had been put on hold following the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry from his position.
The PS further added that the country would have to wait for the installation of a new constitutional authority before further decisions are made.
Kenya pledged to deploy around 1,000 police officers to Haiti as part of an international force in a bid to combat the gang violence after the United Nations Security Council authorized a multinational security support mission to Haiti, adopted through Resolution 2699.
This pledge came after the country accepted to lead the coordination of the international mission having been requested by member States.
However, the deployment faced a hurdle after it was held through a High Court ruling that declared the deployment unconstitutional after a subsequent petition was filed in court.
Kenya Signs Deal with Haiti
Despite the court ruling, Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry flew to Kenya where he signed in an instrument that would enable the deployment of Kenyan police officers in the Caribbean nation.
Also Read: From Police Officer to Gangster: Story of Haiti Gang Leader Barbecue
In a statement on March 1, 2024, President William Ruto noted that the signing of the reciprocal instrument between the two countries on the multi-national security support mission in Haiti was done after the two leaders held a meeting at the State House in Nairobi.
Following the signing of the deal, the country’s main gang leader Jimmy Barbecue orchestrated attacks that led to the escape of over 3,000 dangerous criminals from Haiti’s two largest prisons and killed around a dozen people.
The prison attacks were followed by the storming of Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince, which was repelled by security, before a state of emergency was declared on March 3.
Eventually, the Prime Minister gave in to pressure and tendered his resignation as the head of the Caribbean’s nation government.
