Haiti-Security and Humanitarian Crisis: Canada Conditions Aid on UN Plan Overhaul

On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Canada announced $60 million in aid for Haiti. However, this support remains contingent on the adoption of a UN plan to transform the current Kenyan mission into an expanded international force to combat armed gangs. New York, USA.— Canada announced on Tuesday a new financial commitment of $60 million to support international stabilization efforts in Haiti, ravaged by armed gang violence. This funding, however, remains conditional on the UN Security Council's adoption of a Washington-proposed plan to transform the current international mission into an expanded force to combat gangs. Indeed, since June 2024, Kenya has led a UN-backed multinational mission to strengthen the Haitian National Police. But the mechanism is struggling to fulfill its mandate: only 40% of the 2,500 planned officers have been deployed, according to Kenyan President William Ruto. Faced with this stalemate, the United States is advocating for an overhaul of the operation, making it more substantial, better funded, and with a more robust mandate. During a meeting held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand confirmed that Canada was ready to mobilize an additional $40 million if the UN project is validated. An additional $20 million would be allocated for maritime security in the Caribbean, a component deemed crucial to curbing arms and drug trafficking, which are drivers of the Haitian crisis. Since 2022, Ottawa has already injected $80 million to support the establishment of the current mission, primarily for training, international coordination, and surveillance. While showing its support, the Canadian government insists on the need for Haitian transitional authorities to make progress on several fronts: organizing credible elections, implementing economic reforms, and restoring state authority. Without tangible progress, Ms. Anand warned, international support could wane. In Ottawa, Canada's growing involvement in Haiti is sparking a political debate. Senior official Mark Richardson deemed any discussion of a potential Canadian military deployment premature. Several elected officials, notably Conservative Shuvaloy Majumdar, are concerned about the risk of aid diversion by gangs or their economic allies. However, Global Affairs Canada officials assured that no such cases had been detected in the past three years. The trafficking of American weapons into the region has also been identified as a major threat. Bloc Québécois MP Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe called on Ottawa to increase pressure on Washington to curb this illegal trade. For Minister Anand, strengthening the international mission is essential not only to confront gangs but also to reopen schools, curb the food crisis, and restore a minimum of stability. “As the resolution proposes to quintuple the mission's size, funding, and equipment, their needs will be greater than ever,” she warned. On the ground, the situation remains critical. Gangs control vast portions of the country, leading to forced displacement, food shortages, and extreme brutality, sometimes broadcast live on social media. As the second-largest financial contributor after Washington, Canada intends to play a leading role in this new phase. But Ottawa emphasizes that only increased mobilization from the international community, coupled with internal reforms in Haiti, can prevent the spiral of violence from destroying any prospect of lasting recovery. Jean Mapou