US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to visit Haiti on Thursday, according to a senior US official, as Washington aims to strengthen the UN-supported security mission in the Caribbean nation plagued by gang violence.
Brian Nichols, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, announced that Blinken will engage with Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille and the transition council, followed by a trip to the Dominican Republic. Nichols, addressing journalists on Wednesday, urged the international community to increase financial support to enable the current Kenyan-led force to persist and allow more nations to contribute units. The ongoing mission in Haiti receives backing from the United Nations, with significant funding from Washington. The US is considering various options, including a formal UN peacekeeping operation, to secure sustainable financing and staffing for the mission, Nichols explained.
"Our objective is to establish a robust, effective mission capable of delivering the security advancements that the Haitian people merit. We are collaborating with our international partners to achieve this," Nichols stated. The US and Canada have provided the most substantial contributions to the force to date. The UN reports that gang conflicts have displaced over 578,000 Haitians, and nearly 5 million, close to half of the population of 11.7 million, are enduring acute hunger, with 1.6 million at risk of starvation. In 2022, Haiti requested a security mission to assist its under-resourced police in combating gangs that have seized control of most of Port-au-Prince. These gangs, which recruit minors, have committed indiscriminate killings, gang rapes, and extortion. However, progress has been sluggish, with only 400 Kenyan police deployed under the UN-endorsed mission, and countries have been slow to fulfill their commitments of funds, personnel, and armored vehicles. Many Haitians remain skeptical of international interventions due to past UN missions that resulted in a cholera outbreak and sex abuse scandals.
During his visit, Blinken will address the critical need for elections, Nichols noted, emphasizing the importance of dialogue with the prime minister and transitional council. "This is a pivotal time for Haiti... We are witnessing the long-awaited forward momentum on the security front, but we also need to see advancements on the political front," Nichols commented. Haiti has been without a president since the assassination of former President Jovenel Moise in July 2021. In the Dominican Republic, Blinken will meet with President Luis Abinader to discuss bolstering economic relations, promoting democracy, and enhancing security in the region, particularly in Haiti, according to Nichols.
