At UN, US pushes larger Haiti force, Kenya bemoans unreliable US vehicles

The United States sought to build support at the United Nations (UN) on Monday for the expansion of an international force to tackle Haiti’s armed gangs, building on a Kenyan-led mission that Kenyan President William Ruto said has struggled with staffing and logistics.

Armed gangs have taken control of almost all of Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince in a conflict that has forced some 1.3-million people from their homes, killed thousands of people and fueled famine-level hunger.

At an event organised by the US and Kenya on the sidelines of the annual UN gathering of world leaders, Ruto said the 15-month-old force – known as the Multinational Security Support mission – had been operating at only 40% of the expected strength of 2 500 security personnel. 

The UN Security Council mandate for the MSS mission is due to expire on October 2. 

A Security Council resolution requires at least nine of the 15 votes in favor and no vetoes by the US, Britain, China, France or Russia.