Haiti Government says it remains hopeful for a “swift and positive outcome,” even after High Court on Friday declared illegal plan to deploy at least 1,000 police officers to help fight gangs in the troubled island nation.
The ruling on Friday has thrown into doubt the future of the UN-backed multinational force long sought by Haiti’s government. Haiti has continuously pleaded for international help to confront its spiraling security crisis.
Kenya’s Government was ready to provide at least 1,000 police officers, an offer that was backed by the United States.
Haiti in a statement says it is “following developments in Kenya and expects a swift and positive outcome.” The statement further thanks the multiple countries that have come forward to offer various types of aid to restore order and security as soon as possible.
The Kenyan government has vowed to challenge the High Court ruling that declared the deployment illegal.
The ruling explained that the National Security Council has no legal mandate to deploy police officers out of Kenya. Further, the ruling says Kenya does not have reciprocal agreement with Haiti, therefore, officers from the National Police Service cannot be sent to Haiti.
President William Ruto described the deployment as a “mission for humanity,” in step with its long record of contributing to peacekeeping missions abroad.
Haiti, Western hemisphere’s poorest nation has been in turmoil for years, with armed gangs taking over parts of the country and unleashing brutal violence, leaving the economy and public health system in tatters.
The 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise plunged the country further into chaos. No elections have taken place since 2016 and the presidency remains vacant.
