NAIROBI, Kenya – The United States has reaffirmed its commitment to the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti, led by Kenyan security forces, despite President Donald Trump’s recent 90-day freeze on foreign aid.
Kenyan President William Ruto disclosed the exemption following a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday, where the two leaders reviewed bilateral relations and ongoing security cooperation.
“Our discussion confirmed that the United States has specifically exempted its support for the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission in Haiti from the broader pause on federal assistance, recognizing the critical need to sustain momentum for the mission and its role in stabilizing Haiti and restoring order,” President Ruto said.
I had a telephone conversation with United States Secretary of State @SecRubio. We reviewed bilateral relations between Kenya and the US and reaffirmed our mutual commitment to strengthening our existing cooperation.Our discussion confirmed that the United States has…
The U.S. had pledged up to Ksh.38.5 billion for the Haiti deployment, and uncertainty loomed over its fate following Trump’s aid freeze.
However, Washington’s decision to continue supporting the mission underscores its strategic significance.
Rubio, in a statement, expressed gratitude to Kenya for taking the lead in the Haiti operation and acknowledged its role in promoting peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where Kenya has been involved in mediation efforts regarding the conflict between the government and M23 rebels.
“Rubio spoke with Kenyan President William Ruto to thank him for Kenya’s leadership of the Multinational Security Support mission to Haiti, which remains fully operational, and Kenya’s role in promoting peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” the U.S. State Department noted.
The MSS mission, aimed at restoring order in the crisis-hit Caribbean nation, currently relies on voluntary contributions.
However, President Ruto has been lobbying for its transformation into a UN peacekeeping operation, which would shift funding responsibility to all 193 UN member states.