Faith Nyasuguta
The Kenyan government has assured that the U.S. funding freeze for the Kenya-led Haiti Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission will not derail ongoing operations. According to Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, sufficient funds are available to support the mission until at least September 2025.
Mwaura noted that by the end of 2024, approximately $110.3 million had been pledged by multiple countries, including the United States, Canada, France, Turkey, Spain, Italy, and Algeria. Out of this, $85 million had already been received by the Trust Fund, with a substantial portion coming from the U.S. Despite the sudden freeze on certain funds, Kenya remains committed to ensuring that the mission succeeds and transitions into a full U.N.-led operation, securing long-term financial sustainability.
While the MSS mission was approved by the U.N. Security Council, it is not a United Nations operation and relies on voluntary contributions. The mission has struggled with funding shortages and logistical challenges, slowing its ability to help Haiti regain control from armed gangs that now dominate 85% of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
U.S. Freezes Haiti Mission Funding
The U.S. government’s decision to freeze some funding for the Haiti mission has raised concerns about the future of international efforts to combat gang violence in the country. The U.N. confirmed on Tuesday that Washington has halted some of its financial support, which was crucial for sustaining the MSS forces deployed to Haiti.
According to U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, the United States had committed $15 million to the Trust Fund financing the multinational force. However, with $1.7 million already spent, $13.3 million is now frozen. This unexpected move is expected to have an immediate impact on the mission, which already faces serious funding and personnel shortages.
The funding freeze is part of a broader foreign aid suspension by U.S. President Donald Trump, which has led to mass layoffs among aid workers and the shutdown of programs worldwide. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has offered a waiver for life-saving programs, but confusion over which programs qualify has further complicated the situation.
Despite this setback, Kenya has reaffirmed its commitment to the mission, insisting that the funding already secured will sustain operations for the foreseeable future.
Challenges Facing the Haiti Mission
The MSS mission is tasked with supporting Haiti’s National Police in battling armed gangs that have taken over vast parts of the country. The Haitian police force, already severely underfunded and understaffed, has only 4,000 officers actively patrolling a nation of over 11 million people.
In recent days, the security situation has worsened, with gangs launching a relentless assault on an upscale neighborhood in Port-au-Prince. The attack, which has lasted over a week, has left at least 40 people dead. The violence highlights the urgent need for reinforcements and sustained international support.
According to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the current level of support is insufficient, and without additional funding and troops, gangs could completely overrun the capital.
The mission has also been strengthened by new troop arrivals, including a military contingent of 70 soldiers from El Salvador, joining the more than 600 Kenyan police officers and forces from Jamaica and Guatemala already on the ground.
Impact of the U.S. Aid Freeze
Beyond the direct impact on the security mission, the U.S. aid freeze is affecting broader humanitarian programs in Haiti. According to Jake Johnston, a researcher at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, approximately $330 million in U.S. commitments to various programs,including those providing HIV/AIDS treatment , have been put on hold.
“Haiti is one of the most aid-dependent countries in the world,” Johnston noted, warning that the loss of U.S. funding could exacerbate the ongoing crisis.
However, Johnston also emphasized that Haiti should not rely solely on U.S. assistance. “The absence of U.S. funding does not have to mean the end of anything,” he said, urging the Haitian government to step up its own efforts in restoring security.
Other analysts, like Michael Deibert, author of Notes From the Last Testament: The Struggle for Haiti, warn that the withdrawal of U.S. aid could make the mission’s job even harder.
“This mission was already facing very great odds,” Deibert said. “With this withdrawal of aid, it will make their job there even harder.”
What’s Next for Haiti?
With the U.S. halting funding, the future of the MSS mission remains uncertain. The long-term plan has been to transition the MSS force into a full-fledged U.N. peacekeeping mission, but delays in funding and bureaucratic hurdles could slow this process.
For now, Kenya and its allies remain committed, ensuring that operations will continue until at least September 2025. However, unless new funding sources are secured, the mission may struggle to expand its efforts to reclaim Haiti from armed gangs.
As Haiti faces one of the worst security and humanitarian crises in its history, the question remains: Will international support be enough to stabilize the nation, or will the country be left to fend for itself?
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