UNITED NATIONS (Chatnewstv.com) — The United States and Kenya urged decisive international action Monday to confront Haiti’s spiraling security crisis, backing the creation of a new UN-supported Gang Suppression Force to replace the current multinational mission.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and Kenyan President William Ruto co-chaired a high-level meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, where partners rallied behind a plan to strengthen the mandate for international security assistance.
“The time for decisive, coordinated action is now,” Landau said. He praised Kenya and other countries contributing to the Multinational Security Support mission, calling their efforts the foundation for “this next phase” of stabilization.
The proposal would establish a UN Support Office for Haiti, or UNSOH, tasked with backing a 5,500-strong force aimed at tackling powerful armed gangs. All 32 member states of the Organization of American States have endorsed the shift to a more robust mandate.
Washington stressed that international help is only part of the solution. “Solutions must be Haitian-led and internationally supported,” Landau said. “The GSF and UNSOH would provide tools needed to address Haiti’s immediate security challenges, but enduring recovery depends on Haitian leadership. Haiti must write its own future and work toward building a stable nation.”
Kenya, which leads the current MSS mission, has been a key partner in mobilizing international support for Haiti. President Ruto told delegates that his country remains committed to backing a global effort but emphasized the need for broader contributions.
The United States said it stands with the Haitian people and international partners in the push to restore order and pave the way for a return to elected governance.
