The United States on Tuesday, August 1 lauded Kenya for offering to send police officers to help restore order in Haiti.

In a statement, US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken said the US looks forward to partnering with the United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution to lead a multinational force to violence hit country.

“The United States commends the Government of Kenya for responding to Haiti’s call and for considering serving as the lead nation for a multinational force in Haiti to assist in addressing insecurity caused by gang violence,” Blinken said. 

Further, Blinken urged Haitian stakeholders to take steps to form a political consensus in the country and restore peace.

“We call on Haitian stakeholders to urgently broaden political consensus to restore democratic order as soon as conditions permit,” he added.

Kenya Supports Haiti

Kenya on Saturday July 29, accepted to positively consider leading a Multi-National Force to Haiti.

In a statement, Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua expressed Kenya’s commitment to deploy a contingent of 1,000 police officers to help train and assist Haitian police restore normalcy in the country and protect strategic installations.

“Kenya stands with persons of African descent across the world, including those in the Caribbean, and aligns with the African Union’s diaspora policy and our own commitment to Pan Africanism, and in this case to reclaiming of the Atlantic crossing.”

Kenya’s proposed deployment will crystalize once a mandate from the UN Security Council is obtained, and other Kenyan constitutional processes are undertaken. An Assessment Mission by a Task Team of the Kenya Police is scheduled within the next few weeks.

This assessment will inform and guide the mandate and operational requirements of the Mission,” said Mutua.

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Tense Situation  

Haiti has grappled with multiple challenges, including the influence of criminal gangs in Port-au-Prince and elsewhere, for years. 

It was also destabilized by the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021. Prime Minister Ariel Henry has suspended elections to find a new president indefinitely, saying they are not possible under the security situation.

In a further indication of the lawless situation that emerged on Saturday, a US faith-based aid group said that a US nurse and her child had been kidnapped.

The Roi Haiti group said its director’s wife, Alix Dorsainvil, and her child were missing. The US State Department said it was aware of the reports and was in contact with Haitian authorities.

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Bahamas Support 

On Tuesday, August 1, the Bahamian government welcomed Kenya’s decision to lead a multinational force in Haiti.

Further, it committed to deploy 150 people to support the effort of the UN and Kenya in Haiti.

The announcement by Bahama’s government followed a request on Monday from U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres that Haiti’s neighbors join forces with Kenya.

“The Bahamas has committed 150 persons to support the multi-national force once authorized by the United Nations Security Council,” the ministry said in a statement.

In addition, Bahama said it looks forward to cooperating with hemispheric partners including the United States and Canada.”