NEW YORK, Nov 20 – United Nations Security Council diplomats expressed widespread support on Wednesday for transforming the current Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti into a full-fledged U.N. peacekeeping operation to address escalating gang violence. However, opposition from veto-wielding members Russia and China stalled the proposal.
Escalating Violence in Haiti Sparks International Concern
Haiti’s security crisis has deepened in recent weeks, with armed gangs attacking new areas of the capital, targeting commercial flights, and exacerbating instability as the country undergoes a leadership transition. Haitian leaders have called for stronger international intervention to combat the growing chaos, describing the current MSS mission as underfunded and ill-equipped.
Haiti’s U.N. Ambassador Antonio Rodrigue warned that the MSS mission, which deployed partially in June, is “completely insufficient” to address the scale of the crisis. Rodrigue appealed for converting the mission into a peacekeeping operation to secure adequate funding and resources.
Draft Proposal for Peacekeeping Mission Faces Pushback
The United States and Ecuador circulated a draft resolution in September proposing the transition of the MSS into a peacekeeping mission. However, this provision was removed from the final resolution renewing the MSS mandate due to objections from Russia and China.
While most Security Council members voiced support for the transition, Russia and China opposed the move, arguing that Haiti’s leadership lacks legitimacy, given its unelected status and internal divisions. Both nations emphasized focusing on fulfilling existing MSS commitments instead of launching a new operation.
Challenges Facing the MSS Mission
The MSS, approved in October 2023, currently operates with around 400 Kenyan troops—far below the 3,100 pledged by participating countries. Its dedicated fund of less than $100 million is insufficient to address the scale of gang-related violence that has displaced thousands and paralyzed critical infrastructure.
Rodrigue noted that any new peacekeeping mission must address past failures, referencing earlier U.N. missions in Haiti that were marred by allegations of human rights abuses and a deadly cholera outbreak.
Humanitarian Crisis Worsens
The escalating violence has severely impacted Haiti’s healthcare system and infrastructure. Jean “Bill” Pape, a leading Haitian infectious disease expert, told the council about the dire situation, with two-thirds of his health organization’s employees displaced due to gang violence.
“It is a difficult task for any Haitian to request foreign troops on our soil,” Pape said. “But if nothing is done, the alternative will be a massive genocide that has started already, something only you have the power to prevent.”
Next Steps for the United Nations
Transforming the MSS into a peacekeeping mission would require a detailed report from U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres and significant diplomatic maneuvering to overcome objections from Russia and China. In the meantime, Haiti’s leaders and international advocates continue to push for stronger global intervention to prevent further deterioration of the crisis.
Rodrigue summed up Haiti’s plight: “The alternative to inaction is a humanitarian catastrophe on an unimaginable scale. We cannot afford to wait.”