The United Nations Security Council has decided to deploy multinational police forces to Haiti, a Caribbean island nation dominated by gangs and in a state of virtual anarchy. The Security Council is attracting attention for taking action for the first time in a long time amid growing criticism that it has virtually degenerated into a ‘vegetable body’ due to the veto power exercised by permanent members China and Russia on major agenda items such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and sanctions against North Korea.
According to the New York Times, the Security Council held a meeting at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on the 2nd and adopted a resolution authorizing about 1,000 multinational police officers led by Kenya to carry out security maintenance missions in Haiti. The multinational police forces, who will stay in Haiti for at least one year, will protect major infrastructure such as airports, ports, schools, and hospitals, and will carry out joint operations with local police. However, the exact deployment timing has not yet been determined.
Haitian Foreign Minister Jean-Victor Geneus welcomed the event, saying, “It is a light of hope for the people who have suffered for a long time.” Separately, the United States also announced its intention to provide $100 million (about 135 billion won). U.S. President Joe Biden also appealed for approval to dispatch multinational police in a speech to the United Nations General Assembly last month, saying, “The people of Haiti cannot wait long.”
Of the 15 Security Council members, 13, excluding China and Russia, supported this resolution. China and Russia abstained. The NYT said, “The Security Council has had difficulty passing resolutions and taking action due to divisions among the permanent members with veto power following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” and commented that the passage of the resolution today was a very rare moment for the Security Council to take action. In 2007, the Security Council approved the entry of African Union troops into Somalia, which is overrun by warlords and terrorists.
Haiti has been experiencing extreme social chaos since the assassination of then-President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021. According to the UN, between January 1 and August 15 of this year, more than 2,400 people were killed and 950 were kidnapped. About 60% of the 11 million people are in extreme poverty, living on less than $2 (about 2,700 won) per day. Accordingly, in October of last year, Prime Minister Ariel Henry requested the ‘deployment of professional security personnel’, and this time, multinational police were dispatched.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.