Belize army sends officers for long-delayed Haiti mission to Jamaica

Belize army sends officers for long-delayed Haiti mission to Jamaica

The Belize Defence Force is deploying two senior officers to Jamaica ahead of an assignment to Haiti, it said on Sunday, as part of its commitment to support a long-delayed security mission to help Haitian police fight powerful gangs.

The deployment could signal other countries will deploy to support Kenyan police already in the Caribbean nation as part of a "multinational support mission" requested by Haiti, with the U.N.'s initial 12-month mandate within weeks of expiring.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Haiti in 2022 requested international support to help fight armed gangs that have taken over most of the capital and are expanding to nearby areas, fueling a humanitarian crisis with mass displacements and soaring hunger.

So far, around 400 Kenyan police officers have deployed out of at least 2,900 troops promised by a handful of countries.

The mission has suffered setbacks such as delayed wages and supplies of key equipment like firing towers on armored vehicles delivered by the U.S., its top financial backer.

CONTEXT

It was not clear when the full forces would deploy to Haiti, where Kenyan police are mandated to lead the mission. Haitian police and the mission did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Belize itself pledged in May to provide the mission with 50 military personnel from the Belize Defence Force (BDF) and coast guard.

Kenyan mission commander Godfrey Otunge predicted the Bahamas, Jamaica and Belize should deploy before the end of this month, Kenyan and Haitian media reported. Together, they have pledged 400 troops and Benin at least 1,500.

KEY QUOTE

"The BDF will be collaborating with the Jamaican Defence Force as part of a multinational task force dedicated to supporting Haiti's restoration efforts," the BDF said in a statement on X.

It said the officers would go to Jamaica before deploying to Haiti "to undertake crucial operational planning duties."