Kenya has decided to temporarily suspend its plan to send police officers to Haiti, as part of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MMSS) supporting the Haitian National Police (PNH) approved by the UN "There has been a fundamental change in circumstances as a result of the complete breakdown of law and order and the subsequent resignation of the PM Ariel Henry https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41864-haiti-flash-acting-prime-minister-ariel-henry-resigns-video.html Without a political administration in Haiti, there is no anchor on which a police deployment can rest," said Korir Sing'oei, Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Kenya.

"Whence government will await the installation of a new constitutional authority in Haiti, before taking further decisions on the matter [...]" while reiterating that Kenya remained determined to "providing leadership to the MSS."

Reacting to Kenya's announcement Matthew Miller, State Department Spokesman, said "I would be concerned about any delay, but we don't think it will be necessary," adding "it is natural for Kenya to want to know that there is a Government which can welcome them and which can ask them to deploy a mission."

The United States believes that the transition agreement will allow the establishment of a new government, as Nairobi wishes. "The new transitional council which will appoint an interim Prime Minister and a ministerial cabinet should be formed in the next 24 to 48 hours" and this "will pave the way for the continuation of this mission," added Miller.

However, a major challenge, according to diplomats familiar with the subject, is financing the Mission. The United States has pledged $300 million. However, a UN spokesperson said on Monday (March 11) that so far less than $11 million had been deposited into the dedicated UN trust fund for the Mission.

A senior US State Department official said the Biden administration was working with Congress to get the money transferred.

On the other hand, Kenya has requested that the costs of the deployment be paid up front, but UN rules require that the funds it administers be used only to reimburse the costs incurred, according to a diplomat based in Nairobi and UN officials.

So if Kenya wants to be paid up front, it will have to find a country willing to pay it directly, said the diplomats and UN officials, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the subject. .

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41864-haiti-flash-acting-prime-minister-ariel-henry-resigns-video.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41852-haiti-caricom-extraordinary-session-on-the-transition-in-haiti.html

SL/ HaitiLibre