Ruto Criticises Global Leaders Over Failures in Haiti
President William Ruto has strongly criticised the international community for failing to provide enough support for the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti. His remarks come as Kenya’s mandate in the troubled Caribbean nation is set to expire in less than two weeks.
Speaking on Monday during the High-Level Meeting on Haiti in New York, Ruto cautioned that Kenya would only commit more personnel to the operation if the mission was guided by a clear mandate and backed by reliable resources guaranteed by the United Nations Security Council and other global partners.
“If we are sending an additional team, the mandate must be clear. We must also have a predictable resource package. It cannot be what Kenya has been through, which is a game of guesswork, if we are serious about solving the matter of Haiti,” the President said.
Logistical Challenges and Rising Gang Threat
Ruto disclosed that Kenya’s plan to establish 12 new forward operating bases in Haiti was halted due to logistical hurdles. The delay, he explained, gave armed gangs the opportunity to retake some of the areas that had already been secured by the MSS forces.
The President also lashed out at the criminal groups destabilising Haiti, describing them as cowards who resort to hit-and-run guerrilla tactics to evade coordinated security operations.
“The international community must stand up for the people of Haiti. The gangs, in my opinion, are cowards who have literally gone into hiding, often resurfacing with guerrilla warfare tactics,” Ruto said, stressing that Haitians deserved more meaningful international support.
He added that without proper logistical backing, the mission would remain incomplete and expose the people of Haiti to continued suffering.
Transition and Future of the Mission
Ruto also raised concerns over reports that the United States is pushing for the expansion of foreign forces in Haiti to more than 5,000 officers, with a possible transfer of overall command from Kenya to another partner nation.
He urged caution, noting that any transition must be carefully managed to avoid leaving Haitians vulnerable midway through the mission.
Drawing from Kenya’s long experience in global peacekeeping—where the country has contributed to over 46 international peace missions—the President reassured the global community that Kenya remains committed to supporting Haiti.
However, he emphasised that future deployments must be properly planned, financed, and internationally coordinated.
Previous Calls for UN Support
Earlier, on September 7, Ruto had appealed to the United Nations Security Council to provide clear direction on the future of the Kenya-led MSS mission as its mandate neared expiry.
At that time, speaking in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on the sidelines of the Second Africa-CARICOM Summit, Ruto confirmed that discussions were ongoing about the mission’s leadership and long-term structure.
He stressed that Haiti’s worsening security crisis required urgent international attention and a smooth, well-coordinated transition to ensure stability.
Kenya, he said, is ready to continue playing its role in peacekeeping, but the burden cannot be left to one country alone.
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