(19e part)
June 25, 2024, D-Day. From the request of former Prime Minister Ariel Henry addressed on October 9, 2022 to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, declaring (…) “To call on behalf of the Haitian people for active solidarity from countries friendly to Haiti that have the capacity to deploy without delay a specialized international armed force to address the humanitarian crisis, including by ensuring the free flow of water, fuel, food and medical supplies from major ports and airports to communities and health facilities. Gang violence has caused shortages of some basic food products. Activities have virtually ground to a halt and the country’s economy is suffocating. The support we are requesting should help us regain control of the situation, restore State authority, uphold the rule of law and envisage a return to the normal functioning of democratic institutions in the near future.”
(…) to the conclusion on June 25, 2024, by his successor, Garry Conille, the beneficiary and to a certain extent, the 9 President-Advisors of the Presidential Transitional Council, a lot of things have happened. While everyone is basing their hopes on this foreign force which should, in principle, free the country from the yoke of armed gangs that terrorize the population and lock the entire Haitian territory in a kind of antechamber of death that is slowly killing it if the leaders do nothing to take it back in hand. Like his predecessor Ariel Henry, Garry Conille had rushed to greet the arrival of this first contingent of the mission in these terms: The arrival of this force is part of the strategy defined by the mandate of the Transitional Government to restore security in the country and facilitate the return of nearly 500,000 people to their homes, to organize the recovery of the country and move towards elections as soon as possible. On behalf of the Haitian Government and in my own name, I salute the determination of the Kenyan Government and its people to support Haiti in the fight against the insecurity that is eating away at society.
The Haitian Government and people hope that this multinational mission will be the last one that helps it stabilize for the renewal of political personnel and the return to effective democracy. Long live solidarity between peoples! Long live Haiti! In any case, their dream was beginning to come true when they were informed by the American government at the last minute, at least at the last hour, probably so as not to arouse the suspicions of the armed groups that some in Washington remain convinced, being in contact with most of the Haitian leaders, that a first contingent of Kenyan police officers were on their way to Port-au-Prince. It is Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Very early on, a major security presence had been set up all around the airport facilities of Maïs Gâté, including on the tarmac of Toussaint Louverture airport.
Troops from specialized units of the national police as well as soldiers from the Haitian Armed Forces (FAD’H) were deployed while buses could be seen waiting along the runway. Those who were not in the know imagined that it was the American authorities who were waiting for the arrival of other military equipment to continue the construction of the bases in anticipation of the arrival of the mission’s troops as was the case throughout the previous months. But others who listened to the news the day before or followed information on Haiti on social networks had learned that a first group of Kenyans had left Africa in the evening for Haiti. So, they decided to hang around from a distance, just to understand what was happening. Very quickly, their curiosity would pay off. It was 9:20 a.m., the silhouette of a large white carrier was visible in the sky of Port-au-Prince. As it approaches the airport, the usual onlookers and other curious passers-by watch the aircraft as it begins its descent.
9:21, 22, 23, the jumbo jet with the red and green tail finally lands at Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince. Surprise for some, sigh of relief for others, the plane bears this sign: Kenya Airways. A man among the spectators, without waiting for the first passengers to exit, shouts out loud: Kenyans are landing ! Indeed, everyone had understood that the deployment of the Multinational Mission for Security Support in Haiti (MMAS) so eagerly awaited by the Haitian leaders of the second Transition after Jovenel Moïse had just begun. After the usual taxiing, the huge Kenya Airways aircraft came to a halt almost in the middle of the runway. A few moments later, an impressive number of men in military fatigues, with serious faces, armed to the teeth, carrying their rifles slung over their shoulders, also equipped with document bags, dark glasses for the most part, of whom it was impossible to know whether they were soldiers or only police officers, as had been announced since the beginning of the process, came down the gangway and were going to form up on the runway. There were 400 police officers or soldiers. They are part of a bridgehead that will be followed by thousands of others since the number of personnel is planned for a number ranging from 2,500 to 5,000 men.
These agents were not the only ones to make this long journey to the Antilles. On site, it was noticed that a certain number of people not wearing military uniforms were also getting off the Kenya Airways Jumbo Jet, probably civilian personnel. After a small ceremony and a review of the troops, a sort of presentation of the Kenyan police officers to Haitian officials, the coaches took to their bases located not far from the airport in Clercine those who arrived as scouts in a mission of which they do not know how they will get out. On the same day, that is to say, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, the Haitian leaders had expressed their satisfaction and hope while thanking the Kenyan authorities for sending this first contingent. In the afternoon, in fact, the head of the interim government, Garry Conille, had received at the Prime Minister’s Office, Ms. Monica Juma, the head of the Kenyan Delegation within the Multinational Mission for Security Support in Haiti who made the trip with the Kenyan police officers, for a joint press conference. After the usual greetings and protocol thanks, right away the one who placed himself as the real boss of the Transition by completely leaving aside the Presidential Transitional Council, which did not show, it is true, its capacity to fulfill its mission as head of the Executive, had to declare during the press conference: “We thank President William Ruto for his support and commitment to Haiti in these difficult times. We thank the Kenyan people for their solidarity with the Haitian people. This is a unique opportunity for these two peoples separated by oceans but linked by history to stand together in these times. No one should have any doubts about the objective of the mission. The State will take charge and assert its authority so that all Haitians can live in peace in the country. We must realize that this situation cannot continue, we must take our responsibility in the face of history and we must project another image of the country. We will begin to work to regain control of the country by avoiding clashes when it is not necessary.”
For her part, the representative of the Kenyan head of state, William Ruto, and who is also his security advisor, Monica Juma, was delighted to be present on the lands of Toussaint Louverture and Jean-Jacques Dessalines to take part in this mission. Moreover, it was in Haitian Creole and in Swahili, a Bantu language spoken in East Africa, particularly in Kenya, that she addressed the audience and journalists to say her first words: We passed Haiti. Unclear literally translating: Hello or How are you! The head of the Delegation was very inspired during this first meeting with the Haitians and Haiti, as she said. She gave a whole eulogy to this mission led by her country during which she wanted to point out that it was not a United Nations mission.
Hence his call to other nations of Africa and CARICOM to take part and make their material and human contributions for its success. Kenya’s mission is to serve as an agent of peace, stability and hope. As a nation, Kenya is driven by a strong desire for democracy and this is really important in this context. Haiti like all other countries needs peace, security and sustainable development. Kenya remains united in our mission and commitment to support the HNP to restore law and order and security, to build bridges between our people and nations. We see this mission as the beginning of a beautiful relationship between sister nations that have been historically separated by slavery. We believe that this mission offers the opportunity to protect the Haitian people, to allow the movement of goods and commodities, to facilitate humanitarian assistance, to protect key institutions and remobilize institutions. In the time elapsed before the deployment of this first contingent, it was necessary to work on the preparatory process because the MMAS is not a UN mission.
We had to work on the design together, make the plans together and finally we developed the instruments to facilitate the deployment. Last Friday (June 21) we had a working session with the Security Council and the same day we signed a Special Protection Agreement with the Haitian government and after this act we made the request for deployment to the President (William Ruto). As a nation leading this mission, we have requested and continue to request the support of all nations because we believe that the restoration of security in Haiti is a duty for all nations that believe in democracy, freedom, justice and lasting peace. A key element of success for this mission is the support of the Haitian people. The Haitian people must support this mission for the restoration of security. The success of this mission can serve as a model for crisis resolution.
We are confident that as brothers and sisters we will carry out this mission well to move towards elections. ” declared among others Mrs. Monica Juma. Obviously, the landing in Haiti of this Kenyan contingent on June 25 was duly welcomed by the international community and, first and foremost, Washington, the project manager of this umpteenth international military mission in just over three decades. That is to say in 1993 with the deployment of the joint OAS-UN mission in Haiti, MICIVIC (Joint International Civilian Mission). In 1994 with MINUHA (United Nations Mission in Haiti) followed in 2004 by MINUSTAH (United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti) and finally, this one in 2024, MMAS (Multinational Mission for the Ap then to Security in Haiti). We must not forget the many diverse and varied missions, more or less restricted, between 1995 and 2023, among others, the MANUH (United Nations Support Mission in Haiti). The MITNUH, (United Nations Transition Mission in Haiti) and the MIPONUH (United Nations Civilian Police Mission in Haiti) etc.
It was Maria Isabel Salvador, the Special Representative in Haiti of the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, and head of BINUH (United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti) who was the spokesperson for this international community which had welcomed the arrival of the first Kenyan contingent on June 25, 2024 in the Haitian capital. The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) welcomes the arrival, on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, of the first contingent of police officers, as part of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MMAS) in the country. This is a crucial step in the fight to restore security in the Haitian capital and its surroundings, and protect the rights of Haitians. BINUH looks forward to the full deployment of the said mission, as authorized by the UN Security Council. “But we must not be mistaken. The real leader of this so-called international mission remained the United States of America.
On the sidelines of the joint press conference of Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille and Ms. Monica Juma, head of MMAS in Haiti for Nairobi, the White House had reclaimed its birthright and imposed its primacy on the landing process. It was President Joe Biden who, in a long statement, set the tone and explained the purpose of the deployment while thanking the partner countries that contributed to the realization of the project. Today, with strong support from the United States, Kenyan forces as part of the Multinational Security Support Mission arrived in Haiti, launching an effort that will bring much-needed relief to Haitians. Widespread gang violence has killed or injured thousands of children, women, and men. More than half a million people have been displaced. Gender-based violence is widespread. As gangs hamper access to essential supplies, nearly five million Haitians now face severe food insecurity.
The Haitian people deserve to feel safe in their homes, build better lives for their families, and enjoy democratic freedoms. Haiti’s future depends on a return to democratic governance. While these goals cannot be achieved overnight, this mission offers the best chance of achieving them. This mission will support the Haitian National Police as they expand their anti-gang operations, strengthen their capacity to maintain public security, and ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches those in need. And we have worked with Kenya and other partners to build critical accountability and oversight measures into the mission. I congratulate and am deeply grateful to all the countries that have pledged personal or financial support to this mission, which will bring the multinational force to 2,500, led by Kenya and comprising Benin, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Belize, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Algeria, Canada, France, Germany, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, the United Kingdom and Spain.
For our part, the United States is the largest financial contributor to this mission, providing more than $300 million and up to $60 million in equipment. And we will continue our diplomatic efforts to encourage more countries to join this effort, because what happens in Haiti matters to its neighbors, the region, and the world.
Haiti is an extraordinary country, and the Haitian people deserve what everyone everywhere deserves: safety, opportunity, and freedom. We are enriched by Haitian immigrants and the contributions of Haitian Americans. The United States has provided and will continue to provide significant security, humanitarian, and economic development assistance, including my Administration’s strong support for trade preferences with Haiti. ” statement by US President Joe Biden on Tuesday, June 25, 2034 from the White House. The next day, June 26, 2024, Ottawa responded to the considerations of the two main players in the case – the United States and Kenya – by announcing an additional envelope of $5.7 million to the United Nations Special Fund allocated precisely to the Multinational Mission for Security Support in Haiti (MMAS).
We learned, in fact, that not only is Canada participating with other partners in the training of women and men to be deployed in Haiti, which we already knew, but in addition, it has decided to significantly increase its financial participation in the mission. It was the Minister of Global Affairs who made the announcement in a press release. “The Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, announced that Canada will contribute an additional $5.7 million to the United Nations Trust Fund for the MAS mission in Haiti. This funding is in addition to the $80.5 million in funding to the Trust Fund announced last February. This new funding will directly support the deployment of the Kenya-led MAS mission.
I am pleased to announce this additional funding, which will help strengthen the Haitian National Police and, in turn, restore security in Haiti. I am also pleased that the deployment of the Kenyan-led MAS mission has begun, as it is a critical step in restoring peace and prosperity in the country. Canada looks forward to working with Kenya, as well as other international partners, to support the security sector in Haiti. In addition to the $5.7 million announced today, Canada previously provided $12.5 million to support three projects that will help strengthen the HNP and improve security conditions for the civilian population in Haiti. These amounts are distributed as follows: $5 million through the Canadian Commercial Corporation to support the Haitian National Police’s Specialized Tactical Training program; $4 million to the Organization of American States for its Securing Maritime and Land Commerce in Haiti program; $3.5 million to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for its container control program in Haiti.
These three projects are funded as part of a $100 million investment for the PNH that was announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in March 2023.”the press release concludes. As we can see, this project took a long time to move to its implementation phase. The Haitian Transition leaders, despite being one of the stakeholders and especially the requesters, since officially it was Port-au-Prince that requested the help of the international community, should have been at the center of everything that is done before, during and after the deployment of the troops and even one of the order givers for the entire duration of the mission. A mission, moreover, that no one, not even them, is able to know the continuation of, or even when it will end. Unfortunately, the reality is quite different. They were sidelined from all major decisions and from the progress of the file until the moment when Washington finally gave the «Go», the starting gun or the green light in Nairobi. (To be continued)
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