US Abandons Haiti Peacekeeping Plan to Satisfy China and Russia, According to Reuters

By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS – The United States has decided to withdraw its call for the U.N. Security Council to propose a plan to transition the security mission in Haiti into a formal U.N. peacekeeping operation. This decision is reportedly aimed at accommodating both Russia and China, according to diplomatic sources.

On Monday, the 15-member council is scheduled to vote on a draft resolution that seeks to extend the mandate of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission until October 2, 2025. This mission was initially approved by the U.N. last year after Haiti requested international assistance.

Although the MSS is authorized by the U.N. Security Council, it is not classified as a U.N. operation. Instead, it relies on voluntary contributions of personnel and funding from different countries.

Progress in stabilizing Haiti has been minimal, with only 400 Kenyan police officers currently deployed and significant funding gaps remaining.

Diplomats indicate that Russia and China were opposed to any requests for a transition plan, prompting the U.S. to remove that specific language from the resolution draft. Deputy Russian U.N. Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy emphasized the need for patience, stating that it is too early to assess the MSS’s effectiveness.

Both the U.N. missions of China and the United States did not provide immediate comments regarding the situation.

Transitioning the MSS to a U.N. peacekeeping operation would ensure more consistent funding, resources, and personnel. If the Security Council had requested a transition plan, it would have required a follow-up resolution to formally establish a peacekeeping mission in Haiti.

Earlier this month, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres remarked that sending a U.N. peacekeeping force might not represent the best solution for Haiti, which is currently grappling with a humanitarian crisis that includes widespread displacement, sexual violence, and hunger.

According to U.N. estimates, gang violence has displaced over 700,000 people in Haiti.

On Thursday, Edgard Leblanc, the head of Haiti’s transition council, expressed support for shifting the MSS to a peacekeeping role. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also discussed the matter during his recent visit to Haiti.

Leblanc conveyed to the U.N. General Assembly, "I am convinced that this change of status, whilst recognizing that the errors of the past cannot be repeated, would guarantee the full success of the mission in Haiti."

Many residents of Haiti remain skeptical about an armed U.N. presence due to previous missions, which were marred by a devastating cholera outbreak and incidents of sexual abuse.