Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has stated that the recent reduction in U.S. funding will not negatively impact the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in Haiti.
Mudavadi, who also serves as Kenya’s Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary, clarified that the mission remains a priority for many nations and is sufficiently funded through other international contributions.
“We have noted some media coverage claiming that the future operation of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM) in Haiti is in limbo after the United States paused its contributions to the UN Trust Fund for the Mission,” said Mudavadi, in response to reports indicating potential challenges for the Mission after the announcement of a policy shift by U.S. President Donald Trump.
“The Kenya-led mission receives funding from several donor countries and we have been assured that there are sufficient funds in the Trust from other nations with approximately 110M US dollars to continue operations,” he added.
According to Mudavadi, the support directed towards the peacekeeping mission will ensure the programme can proceed as initially planned before Kenya was given the mandate to lead the mission.
“The issue of Haiti is an multinational effort. It is not hinged on one nation. the MSS Mission is there upon the resolution of the United Nations,” he stated.
Mudavadi noted that the MSS Mission, which comprises an international police and military force, was approved by the United Nations Security Council on 2 October 2023 to help restore normalcy in Haiti following escalating civil strife and gang violence that began in 2018.
“There are many countries contributing to the mission; the United States is one of them. Other countries, such as Canada and additional partners, have collectively provided $110 million toward the programme. As it stands, the Haiti Mission has not come to a standstill,” he explained.
The Mission includes personnel from Kenya, Jamaica, Belize, the Bahamas, Guatemala, and El Salvador.
