CNN —
As the situation on the ground continues to deteriorate, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Monday that the United States would contribute $300 million to the Kenya-led multinational security mission to Haiti.
“Today, we are announcing that the U.S. Department of Defense is doubling authorized support for this mission from $100 million to $200 million, bringing total U.S. support to this effort to $300 million,” Blinken said. The statement was made at the conclusion of the Caribbean Conference of Nations (CARICOM) held in Kingston, the capital of Jamaica.
It remains unclear when the security mission will be deployed. Kenya’s Interior Minister Kisre Kindiki said early Monday that the Kenyan military is currently in a “pre-deployment” stage.
This is because the U.S. Global Threat Assessment found that “Gangs are more likely to violently resist the deployment of foreign national forces to Haiti because they believe it is a common threat to their control and operations.” The decision was made in response to the fact that the government recognizes that it is a threat to the United States. This assessment highlighted the challenges that likely lie ahead for multinational security assistance missions.
U.S. officials are calling for an accelerated build-up of these forces to stabilize the volatile situation on the ground. Haiti is under a state of emergency after the capital Port-au-Prince descended into violence due to highly coordinated gang attacks.
One of the gang’s leaders, Jimmy Cheridier, described it as an attempt to overthrow Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s government. Chéridier warned that if the unpopular leader did not step down, “the civil war will end in genocide.”
Blinken traveled to Kingston to attend a high-level CARICOM meeting to find a solution to Haiti’s political crisis. Talks continue with the aim of establishing a transitional council that could pave the way for elections in Haiti.
“We came to Kingston today not only to listen to your ideas and hear your views, but also to work with all the CARICOM and Haitian stakeholders to promote future direction, especially political policy. It’s also a transition period to provide concrete support for the joint proposals that we have developed.
Blinken said the United States would “take concrete steps to meet the immediate needs of the Haitian people,” enable “rapid deployment” of a security assistance mission, and ultimately build a “broad-based He said he supports the plan to create an inclusive and independent presidential university. “Create the security conditions necessary to hold free and fair elections, enable humanitarian assistance to reach those in need, and return Haiti to a path to economic opportunity and growth.”
The top US diplomat also announced $33 million in “additional humanitarian assistance to the Haitian people.” Blinken previously announced in Rio de Janeiro that the United States intends to provide $200 million to multinational security assistance missions.
Haiti’s government announced on Monday that it had extended a curfew in the country’s western region “to take appropriate measures to restore order and regain control of the situation.” The curfew will be in place from Monday night until Thursday morning.
The government said police were authorized to use “all legal means to enforce the curfew and arrest all offenders.”
