U.N. Security Council Approves Multinational Force to Combat Gang Violence in Haiti

The United Nations Security Council voted Monday to approve a multinational force to be sent to Haiti with the goal of combatting extreme gang violence. The resolution was approved with 13 votes in favor, and the mission was authorized under the “use of force” provision of the U.N. Charter.

Sérgio França Danese, Brazil’s U.N. ambassador, said the resolution gave its “blessing” to the mission, which is not a U.N. peacekeeping mission. Kenyan Foreign Affairs Minister Alfred Mutua said the force could deploy within two to three months, or possibly early January.

Kenya has committed to sending 1,000 security personnel and the force is expected to include personnel from Jamaica, Barbados and several other nations. It wasn’t immediately clear how big the force would be.

Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry thanked the U.N. Security Council, the U.N.’s secretary general and Kenya and other countries who agreed to join the force, saying, “The bell of liberation sounded.” Vassily Nebenzia, the Russian Federation’s U.N. ambassador, said he did not have any objections in principle to the mission.

The mission is intended to help combat the extreme gang violence that has spiraled in recent years in Haiti. It is hoped that the multinational force will be able to bring stability and security to the region.