U.S Considers Replacing Kenya as Lead in Haiti Security Mission

The administration of President Donald Trump is weighing the possibility of stripping Kenya of its lead role in the multinational security mission in Haiti and transferring the responsibility to another country.

The development comes as Washington pushes to expand the mission, with plans to double the size of the foreign forces deployed to tackle rising gang violence and territorial control in the Caribbean nation.

U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Kimberly Penland revealed that the United States is drafting a resolution for the United Nations Security Council to ensure Haiti’s security efforts are “properly resourced.”

Kenya formally took charge of the mission earlier this year, deploying hundreds of police officers to Port-au-Prince under the UN-backed framework to stabilize Haiti. However, the U.S. review signals possible changes in both leadership and operational scale, potentially reshaping the dynamics of the international response to Haiti’s crisis.

If the resolution passes, Haiti could see increased troop contributions from additional countries, alongside new logistical and financial support, even as questions emerge over Kenya’s continued command role.

The security mission remains a high-stakes undertaking, with gangs controlling large swathes of Haiti’s capital and paralyzing the government’s ability to operate effectively.