Kenyan President William Ruto on Monday said the crisis in Haiti “can and must be solved,” even as the UN-backed Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) continues to struggle with logistics and resources.
Speaking at a high-level meeting on Haiti during the United Nations General Assembly, Ruto noted that the biggest challenge facing the MSS is transport and logistical support. “If that remains unpredictable, I’m afraid the next mission may suffer the same as MSS,” he warned.
The MSS was established by a UN Security Council resolution on October 2, 2023. But nearly two years later, fewer than 1,000 personnel—mostly Kenyan—have been deployed, far short of the 2,500 planned.
Ruto thanked the United States for providing transport assistance but criticized the poor condition of much of the equipment. “Most of the vehicles were second-hand, and therefore they broke down a lot—sometimes in dangerous places, putting our personnel at risk. But at least [the US] stepped up,” he said.
Meanwhile, the United States has renewed calls for a scaled-up Gang Suppression Force (GSF) with a wider mandate to restore security in Haiti. US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said the plan has won the backing of all 32 members of the Organization of American States.
“This new force would consist of more than 5,500 personnel—over five times the size of the current MSS mission,” Landau noted.
The MSS mandate is set to expire on October 2, even as gang violence continues to grip Haiti.
