President Biden said Thursday that a Kenyan-led multinational police force could succeed in overcoming armed gangs that have invaded Haiti and captured the capital, Port-au-Prince.
When asked during a press conference with Kenyan President William Ruto at the White House whether they would be able to “break the backs” of armed gangs, Biden replied “yes”.
“This is a crisis that will be addressed,” Biden said. “We think we can handle it.”
Ruto said Kenya and the US were building a coalition of nations to support a mission that he said could defeat the armed bands “who have caused untold suffering” in Haiti.
“Gangs and criminals have no nationality. They have no religion. They have no language,” he said, vowing to deal with gangs “firmly and decisively, within the parameters of the law.”
The unofficial deadline to begin deploying the Kenyan-led international police force on Thursday appears to have been postponed. The deployment reportedly came as Ruto wrapped up a three-day state visit to Washington, DC, on Friday.
The Biden administration is asking Congress for $300 million for the mission, along with $60 million for equipment assistance.
Biden said on Thursday that the deployment of US forces to Haiti would have been “easily misrepresented”, expressing his gratitude to Kenya for being willing to intervene.
“Kenya’s willingness to lead on this issue is important,” Biden said. “Ruto and I agree that the Haitian people deserve better. They deserve peace and security.”
Ruto said Kenya has participated in peacekeeping missions over the past 40 years in 47 countries and that Nairobi decided to send troops of its own volition.
“The responsibility for peace and security anywhere in the world, including Haiti, is a collective responsibility of all nations and all people who believe in freedom, self-determination, democracy and justice,” he said. “And it is the reason why Kenya has taken on this responsibility.”
The United Nations approved for the first time late last year a plan to send a Kenyan-led police force to Haiti, which has been consumed by violence since the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. Armed gangs have only grown in power since February, when they united, they freed prisoners and dominated most of Port-au-Prince.
After the February wave toppled the Haitian government, Kenya halted its deployment plans, but they are now back on track after Haiti formed a transition council that will guide the Caribbean nation toward new leadership.
The violence has plunged Haiti into its worst humanitarian crisis since the 2010 earthquake.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
