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A senior U.S. diplomat in Haiti has warned that Washington’s financial support for the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission is not guaranteed beyond December if the United Nations Security Council rejects a U.S. plan to restructure and expand the force. U.S. chargé d’affaires Henry Wooster told reporters that current U.S. backing “will expire at the end of December” unless a new framework is approved, though he avoided speculating on future decisions.
The Kenya-led MSS was deployed in June last year to combat violent gangs in Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas, but progress has been limited. Armed groups, some labeled as terrorist organizations by the U.S., continue to control key areas, fueling instability. The mission has faced chronic shortages of funding, equipment, and personnel, with only about 1,000 troops on the ground compared to the initial target of 2,500.
Washington’s new proposal would rebrand the MSS as the Gang Suppression Force and expand it to about 5,500 troops. Like the current mission, it would depend on voluntary contributions from member states. Kenyan President William Ruto emphasized that more troops, funding, and logistical support are urgently needed, stressing that Kenya joined the mission in good faith believing it would be a truly multinational effort. However, he criticized the lack of global commitment, noting that the operation lacks the robust infrastructure usually tied to U.N.-sanctioned deployments.
According to U.N. figures, the mission’s trust fund has received $113 million to date, with Canada contributing over half and the U.S. providing $15 million. Analysts estimate that sustaining the mission could cost hundreds of millions of dollars annually. With the MSS mandate set to expire on October 2, pressure is mounting on the Security Council to act swiftly before the mission risks collapse.
