Thursday, Jaques Wagner, Brazilian Minister of Defence declared at a hearing before the Senate of this country, that the Brazilian Government will withdraw all its troops engaged in the Minustah by the end of 2016.

He said that the UN had decided to withdraw all military troops in Haiti "Next year, the prediction is the total withdrawal of forces, not only from Brazil but also of other countries in the United Nations."

General José Charles De Nardi, the Head of the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces of Brazil, who accompanied the Minister Wagner in the Senate, said that the majority of countries providing troops to the mission will completely withdraw this year. Stating that there are currently 1,343 Brazilian soldiers in Haiti and that in June 2015, the Defense Ministry plans to reduce this number to 970 "In 2016 we will have 850 men and Brazil will be the only military force present in Port-au-Prince.

Note that at the last meeting, the Security Council had concluded that the security situation in Haiti was "stable" and had only recommended the permanence without change, of the police component (UNPOL) of Minustah, which include 2,601 agents from fifty countries.

Recall that the UN Security Council in October 2014 had renewed the mandate of the Minustah until 15 October 2015. This mandate will necessarily be renewed for 2016 [may be the last time], since the UN ensures that the Minustah will remain until the election results are consolidated and a new President and a new Parliament ensure democratic governance in Haiti.

SL/ HaitiLibre