Politics Haiti promotes UN peacekeeping mission in the fight against gangs

In view of the escalating gang violence in Haiti, the government of the Caribbean state is campaigning for a UN peacekeeping mission. A multinational protection force led by Kenya is currently trying to restore public order. This should be transformed into an official UN peacekeeping mission, demanded the head of the Presidential Transitional Council, Edgard Leblanc Fils, at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. This would strengthen the financing and capacities of the mission.

Haiti has been suffering for years from the violence of heavily armed gangs, which have the capital Port-au-Prince largely under their control. More than half a million Haitians are displaced in their own country. The multinational security mission with a planned 3,000 troops was approved by the UN Security Council last October. The first Kenyan police officers only arrived in Haiti in June - so far there are only a few hundred officers.

Haiti has a difficult relationship with UN peacekeeping missions: According to experts, blue helmets brought cholera into the country after the devastating earthquake in 2010, killing thousands. In addition, blue helmets are said to have repeatedly raped, abused or sexually exploited Haitians during their 13-year deployment.

SDA