Kenyan President Ruto Visits Haiti Amid Peacekeeping Struggles

Kenyan President Ruto Visits Haiti Amid Peacekeeping Struggles \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Kenyan President William Ruto arrived in Haiti as part of the United Nations’ peacekeeping mission aimed at curbing gang violence. Kenya has deployed 400 police officers, with additional forces expected from other nations. Ruto’s visit coincides with Haiti’s efforts to stabilize politically, including the creation of a provisional electoral council ahead of long-awaited elections.

Kenyan President Ruto‘s Haiti Visit: Quick Looks

• Ruto’s Arrival: Kenyan President William Ruto arrived in Haiti on Saturday to visit Kenyan forces participating in a U.N. peacekeeping mission aimed at tackling gang violence.
• Kenyan Deployment: Kenya was the first country to send about 400 police officers to Haiti, with more international forces expected as part of the 2,500-strong mission.
• Challenges for Peacekeeping: The U.N. and other countries have warned that the current forces are under-resourced to confront the gangs, which control 80% of Port-au-Prince.
• Gang Violence Escalates: U.N. officials continue to raise concerns about the growing gang violence and the Haitian police’s limited capacity to restore order.
• Political Turmoil: Ruto’s visit follows Haiti’s creation of a provisional electoral council, a key step towards organizing the country’s first general election since 2016.

Deep Look

Kenyan President William Ruto arrived in Haiti on Saturday to oversee the deployment of Kenyan forces as part of the United Nations’ ongoing peacekeeping efforts in the Caribbean nation. Ruto’s visit underscores Kenya’s commitment to the U.N. mission, which is tasked with combating the escalating gang violence that has gripped Haiti since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. The mission aims to stabilize the country, where nearly 80% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, is controlled by heavily armed gangs.

Ruto, upon landing in Haiti, was greeted by armed officers and officials as he walked across a small patch of red carpet at the airport. His first stop was a Kenyan base located at the airport, where he was expected to meet with police officers engaged in the difficult task of countering the gangs. Kenya, which has taken a leadership role in the international response to Haiti’s crisis, was the first country to send peacekeeping forces to the embattled nation, deploying approximately 400 police officers earlier this year.

Kenya’s contribution is part of a broader U.N. mission that will eventually include personnel from several countries. In addition to the Kenyan forces, about two dozen police and soldiers from Jamaica arrived in Haiti earlier this month. Other nations, including the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, and Chad, have pledged to send troops and police to bolster the peacekeeping mission, which is expected to include a total of 2,500 personnel. However, the timeline for these deployments remains unclear.

Despite these international efforts, the United States and other countries have expressed concern that the current peacekeeping force is under-resourced and too small to effectively combat Haiti’s gangs. The violent groups have entrenched themselves in the power vacuum left after Moïse’s assassination, steadily gaining control of more territory and terrorizing local communities. Many experts and officials fear that without significant additional resources, the peacekeeping mission will struggle to regain control of gang-dominated areas.

Ruto’s visit to Haiti also highlights the international community’s broader concern over the worsening security situation. Just days before his arrival, a U.N. human rights expert warned that gang violence is continuing to spread throughout Haiti, with the country’s National Police lacking the logistical and technical capabilities necessary to combat the gangs. The Haitian police force, already overburdened, is struggling to contain the violence, which has destabilized the country further and created humanitarian crises in numerous areas.

While the idea of sending a more robust U.N. peacekeeping force has been floated by some, it remains controversial. The U.N. mission in Haiti from 2004 to 2017 was marred by scandals, including the introduction of cholera, which resulted in thousands of deaths, and allegations of sexual abuse by U.N. troops. These past failures make the prospect of reintroducing U.N. peacekeepers a highly sensitive issue.

Ruto’s visit comes at a critical moment for Haiti, as the country has recently taken tentative steps towards political stability. Just days before his arrival, Haiti’s government established a provisional electoral council, a long-standing demand of the international community. This council is expected to organize the first general election in Haiti since 2016, a key measure many hope will help restore some level of political order in the country.

The establishment of the electoral council is viewed as a crucial development, especially in the context of Moïse’s assassination, which plunged Haiti into deeper political chaos. The lack of a functioning government has allowed gangs to consolidate their control over much of the country, further exacerbating the crisis. Many Haitians and international observers believe that holding a general election could provide a path forward for the country, though the security situation remains a significant obstacle.

The U.N. mission, combined with the upcoming elections, represents a dual approach to restoring stability in Haiti. On one front, peacekeeping forces are working to curb the influence of gangs and provide a semblance of security. On the other, political efforts are being made to establish a legitimate government that can address Haiti’s long-standing issues. However, both efforts face enormous challenges.

As Ruto met with Kenyan forces and discussed the broader mission with Haitian and U.N. officials, the scale of the task ahead was apparent. The violence in Haiti is not just a security issue—it is also deeply tied to the country’s political instability, economic collapse, and social unrest. Resolving the crisis will require a multifaceted approach that addresses not only the immediate threat of gangs but also the underlying conditions that have allowed them to thrive.

The international community, led by the United Nations, is hopeful that the combined efforts of peacekeeping missions and upcoming elections will bring some degree of relief to Haiti. But with gangs still controlling vast parts of the capital and exerting influence over key regions, the situation remains fragile. President Ruto’s visit marks a significant moment in the international response, as Kenya continues to play a key role in leading efforts to restore peace in Haiti.

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