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Blow to Kenya led Haiti security mission as US freezes $13.3 million support

The United Nations confirmed receipt of official notification from the United States freezing $13.3 million pending aid to support the Haiti Mission.

It is a blow to Kenya’s Security forces after the US announced the freezing of Ksh 1.7 billion (US$13.3 million) in support of the Haiti Mission.

This is after the United Nations confirmed receipt of official notification from the United States freezing the funding pending aid to support the Haiti Mission.

UN Secretary-General Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told AFP they had received the notification ordering an immediate stop of work to support the Multinational Security Support (MSS)

“We received an official notification from the US asking for an immediate stop work order on their contribution” to the trust fund to MSS,” Stephane stated.

The freeze comes as part of President Donald Trump’s push to reduce US overseas aid an effort that has included operations to shutter the operations of the government’s main aid agency, USAID.

The US had transferred $15 million to the fund being the second-largest contribution, after Canada’s $63 million; with $1.7 million already disbursed.

In parallel with the UN-hosted fund, the United States, then headed by Joe Biden, had contributed over $300 million in funds and equipment directly to the MSS, including dozens of armored vehicles.

The freeze comes a week after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that Haiti’s capital could become overrun by gangs if the international community does not step up aid to the security mission.

“More money, equipment, and personnel are needed for the international force. Any further delays risk the catastrophic collapse of Haiti’s security institutions and could allow gangs to overrun the entire metropolitan area of the capital Port-au-Prince,” Guterres said.

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Speaking to the UN Security Council, Haiti’s Foreign minister jean-Victor Harvel said the country is faced with major difficulties that have threaten the survival of the state.

The Kenya-led mission has so far made little progress towards helping the country restore order.

Currently, there are around 900 police and troops from Kenya, El Salvador, Guatemala, Belize and Jamaica.

The mission id depended on voluntary contributions, especially by the UN members.

In 2023, the UN Security Council gave the green light to the MSS mission to support Haiti authorities in their fight against criminal gangs who took control of the country.

Even tough MSS is not a UN force, the UN set up a voluntary fund to finance it, with $110 million having been raised to date, an amount that has been deemed largely insufficient.

Currently, Haiti does not have a president or parliament and is ruled by a transitional body, which is struggling to manage extreme violence linked to criminal gangs, poverty, and other challenges.

More than one million Haiti citizens have also been forced to flee their homes which is three times more than what it was in January last year.

 

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