Kenya’s president welcomes task of leading UN peacekeeping mission

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A protester holds up a machete as a symbol of self-defense against gangs, during a protest against gang violence in Port-au-Prince in August. Associated Press/Photo by Odelyn Joseph, file

Kenya’s president welcomes task of leading UN peacekeeping mission

Kenyan President William Ruto on Tuesday said that his country would not let down the people of Haiti. The day before, the United Nations Security Council approved Kenya leading an armed multinational mission to Haiti, as gang-related violence ravages the Caribbean nation. Thirteen of the fifteen UN Security Council members voted for the mission, while Russia and China abstained.

Does Haiti have a say in the matter? Haiti requested UN assistance in combating gang violence nearly a year ago. Some Haitians welcomed the news. Wensley Johnson, 40, said, “It’s like God heard Haiti’s prayers.” The UN will not fund the mission. Instead, countries will voluntarily donate to the operation. The UN authorized the mission for a year, with a reassessment after nine months.

Dig deeper: Read Emma Freire’s report in WORLD Magazine discussing the possibility of a UN peacekeeping mission to Haiti.