US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the country will pledge to help a proposed UN multinational force led by Kenya that would be dealing with the Haiti Crisis as gangs slowly take over the Caribbean country.

The proposed multinational force would be headed by Kenya, with Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Antigua and Barbuda also pledging to send security personnel to Haiti. The proposed force still needs to be approved by the UN Security Council.

Blinken announced that the US would provide logistics, including intelligence, airlift, communications, and medical support to the UN mission. He also urged other countries to contribute additional personnel, equipment, logistics, training, and funding, according to the Associated Press.

"The people of Haiti cannot wait much longer," said Blinken as he urged other foreign ministers from over 20 countries to act. Currently, gangs have taken over much of the capital of Haiti, Port-au-Prince, with murder, rape, and kidnapping becoming more and more common.

Meanwhile, embattled Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry warned that gangs are committing more and more "kidnapping, pillaging, fires, the recent massacres, sexual and sexist violence, organ trafficking, human trafficking, homicides, extrajudicial executions, the recruitment of child soldiers (and) the blocking of main roads."

"Democracy is at peril. Our country needs a return to normalcy," the Prime Minister said. Henry has appointed himself as president of Haiti since after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. However, many do not recognize his rule, and it plunged Haiti into its current crisis.

READ MORE: Haiti Crisis Explained: How Did It Get This Bad?

Kenya and Haiti Set Up Diplomatic Ties Before Multinational Force Was Proposed

As Kenya answered the call from Ariel Henry for an international force to deal with the Haiti Crisis, the two countries recently established diplomatic relations.

According to Voice of America News, Kenyan President William Ruto and Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry witnessed the signing of the pact establishing ties in New York at the Kenyan Mission to the US.

"As the leading nation in the UN-backed security mission in Haiti, we are committed to deploying a specialized team," said a statement by President Ruto after the signing.

The Kenyan-led force is seen to deter the criminal gangs running rampant across the country as they fight for territory and overwhelm the Haitian police.

Kenya Sent a Delegation to Haiti To Assess the Situation

Before the pact between Haiti and Kenya was signed, Kenya had already sent a 10-man delegation to the embattled Caribbean country.

The Kenyans were there to assess the situation before heeding the call that was first proposed by Ecuador and the United States. However, Al Jazeera News pointed out that Kenya has had a history of police abuse, and many fear that this may come under renewed scrutiny as they lead the multinational force.

Human rights groups are now urging the UN to develop a "clear framework for accountability, oversight, and ensuring that [deployed police] discharge their duties in a professional manner" should other countries send troops to help Haiti.

READ MORE: Haiti Gang Burns Courthouse

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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