Ottawa sets $80.5M for Kenya-led multinational security mission in Haiti
Global News
The money will go towards a multinational security mission led by Kenya to support efforts by the Haitian National Police to combat gang violence, Global Affairs Canada said.
Ottawa is putting $80.5 million toward a mission to improve security conditions in Haiti, where rampant gang violence has caused an ongoing crisis, Global Affairs Canada said Thursday.
The money will go towards a multinational security mission led by Kenya to support efforts by the Haitian National Police, the department said.
It’s expected to support training, communications and logistics for police deployed to the mission and expertise in areas like human rights due diligence.
The announcement came after Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly attended an international pledging event in support of Haiti at the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Brazil on Thursday.
The Kenya-led mission is not a United Nations operation but it was authorized by the UN Security Council in October. The Haitian government requested the mission in 2022.
It has since encountered multiple legal obstacles, including a January court ruling in Kenya that blocked the deployment of Kenyan police officers.
Last week, Haiti’s government announced it was working on an official agreement with Kenyan officials to secure the long-awaited deployment and set a deadline for the arrival of Kenyan police forces.
Joly said in a statement Thursday that Canada “remains committed to working with Kenya and other international partners to support a successful deployment of the (mission) and ensure that our efforts are mutually reinforcing.”
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