Canada Pledges $60 Million to Aid Haiti's Fight Against Gangs
Canada has committed $60 million to assist Haiti in its struggle against criminal gangs. The majority of this funding is contingent on the United Nations supporting a U.S.-led initiative to expand a police mission into a gang-suppression force. This commitment aims to address the escalating violence and instability that has plagued Haiti since 2021.
International Cooperation for Haitian Security
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand emphasized the necessity of collaborative efforts for regional peace and security during an event co-hosted with her Haitian counterpart at the UN. The situation in Haiti has deteriorated significantly, with armed gangs controlling vast portions of the country. Canada has already imposed sanctions on members of Haiti's economic elite, alleging their collaboration with gangs and contribution to the country's instability.
In June 2024, Kenya initiated a UN-backed mission to strengthen Haitian police and combat gangs, with the ultimate goal of restoring peace and facilitating elections. Canada has supported this mission through international aid coordination, surveillance, and training efforts. However, the mission faces challenges, including understaffing.
The Push for a Renewed UN Security Mission
The U.S. administration is advocating for the UN Security Council to replace the existing mission with a larger and better-resourced gang suppression force. According to Minister Anand, this "renewed and enhanced security mission" is vital for reopening schools and alleviating the hunger crisis caused by widespread violence and property theft. Canada is prepared to contribute $40 million if the UN adopts this mission.
In addition to the $40 million, Canada has also pledged $20 million for maritime security in the Caribbean to curb the flow of arms and drugs into Haiti. This complements the existing $80 million commitment for the ongoing police mission led by Kenya. Anand stressed the importance of other nations increasing their support, given the proposed mission's significant expansion in size, funding, personnel, and equipment.
Challenges and Concerns Regarding Aid and Security
Kenyan President William Ruto noted that the current mission is operating with only 40 percent of its intended 2,500 security personnel, hindering its effectiveness. Anand also highlighted the potential difficulty for Haiti's transitional government to secure international support without concrete progress toward free and fair elections and economic reforms.
On Parliament Hill, officials faced questions about the possibility of deploying Canadian troops to Haiti as part of the new UN mission. Mark Richardson, a Global Affairs Canada director general, stated it was "too early" to consider such measures. Conservative MP Shuvaloy Majumdar raised concerns about the potential diversion of Canadian aid to gangs, suggesting that oligarchs supporting gangs have benefited from foreign aid.
Ian Myles, the executive director of Global Affairs Canada's Haiti division, testified that there have been no reported instances of misuse of Canadian resources since 2022. He expressed confidence in the UN's accountability and investigation mechanisms. Bloc Québécois MP Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe called for political pressure on the U.S. to halt the export of American guns to the Caribbean, which he identified as a significant contributor to the problem.
Liberal MP Ahmed Hussen expressed his concern about the use of social media by gangs to amplify terror, citing examples of extreme violence in Haiti. This concern highlights the depth and complexity of the security challenges facing the country.
