The Haitian National Police will take charge of a highly anticipated UN-backed security mission which will be launched at the end of this month, the Caribbean country’s transitional council said on Tuesday.
Police will oversee the force, intended to regain control of large swaths of Haiti from gangs, and make decisions on its “composition, objectives, rules of engagement and health measures,” the transition council said on platform .
Last year, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution authorizing the deployment of the mission. However, progress has been delayed as Haiti has fallen into further chaos, prompting the expulsion of the prime minister interim Ariel Henry and the installation of a council in April.
Kenya has offered 1,000 officers to lead the force, although their deployment has been repeatedly delayed by legal challenges even though a base is being built to house them.
Kenyan President William Ruto will visit Washington this week to meet with US President Joe Biden. The two are expected to talk about Haiti.
Jamaica, the Bahamas, Barbados, Benin, Chad and Bangladesh have also pledged personnel to the force.
Other foreign governments have been reluctant to participate in the mission. Many Haitians have also been wary of international interventions after previous UN missions left behind a devastating cholera epidemic and sexual abuse scandals.
“Haiti, through the Haitian National Police, will have overall control over the mission on the ground,” the transitional council said, adding that it “should deploy before the end of May.”
Haiti’s police face heavily armed gangs, worsening humanitarian conditions and a lack of equipment and infrastructure. About 80 police officers died in combat, in accidents or went missing last year, according to a union report.
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