Daniel Foote, the former US special envoy to Haiti, has voiced skepticism regarding the deployment of Kenyan troops to combat gangs in Haiti, expressing firm belief in the mission's inevitable failure.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, the diplomat emphasized the need for more effective intervention in Haiti's current crisis, questioning Kenya's suitability for the task and labeling it as a third-world country lacking the capacity to execute the mission successfully.
"You can’t ask Kenya to lead the operation, they can’t keep Nairobi safe," Foote asserted.
Pointing to nations like Bangladesh, Barbados, and Chad, Foote argued that the deployment seemed more like a lucrative opportunity for participating countries, advocating for the leadership of more powerful nations in such endeavors.
"Any intervention needs to be led by a country that can lead police and security capacity, not an unproven third-world country," he insisted.
Foote, who assumed the role of special envoy to Haiti after the assassination of the president, highlighted the precarious security situation in the Caribbean nation, noting the peril faced by even its former Prime Minister.
"The United States and the international community have intervened in Haiti several times, but each attempt has failed to stabilize the country," Foote remarked.
On March 11, Haiti's Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigned following a crisis meeting convened by the 15-member Caribbean Community regional bloc.
Acknowledging Henry's resignation, the president of Guyana and chairman of CARICOM, Mohammed Irfaan Ali, emphasized the urgent need for decisive action to address Haiti's crisis and restore stability.
In response to Henry's resignation, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced an additional contribution of Ksh14 billion towards the cause. Blinken also announced the formation of a presidential college to prevent any political vacuum and facilitate the pending deployment of a multinational force, to be led by Kenya.
"The college will take concrete steps to meet the needs of the Haitian people and facilitate the deployment of the multinational force led by Kenya," Blinken affirmed.