SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — On May 12, 2025, Kenya and the Dominican Republic convened in Santo Domingo to reinforce their joint commitment to the United Nations-backed Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti. This initiative aims to address the escalating gang violence that has destabilized the nation.
Appeal for Enhanced International Support
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Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, and Dominican Foreign Minister, Roberto Álvarez, jointly appealed to the international community to fulfill and augment their pledged financial and logistical support for the MSS mission. The ministers emphasized that the mission’s limited effectiveness is due to a shortfall in funding and materials, urging the global community to act swiftly to support the mission’s full deployment and enhance its capacity to restore stability in Haiti.
Formalizing Medical Support Agreements
During the meeting, Kenya and the Dominican Republic signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize medical evacuation and repatriation aid for Kenyan police officers participating in the MSS mission. This agreement ensures that Kenyan personnel injured in combat will receive priority access to medical attention in the Dominican Republic, with provisions for repatriation when necessary.
Current State of the MSS Mission
The MSS mission, authorized by the UN Security Council in October 2023, has deployed approximately 1,000 personnel, with about 75% being Kenyan officers. Despite these efforts, heavily armed gangs have expanded their control across Haiti, resulting in over 1,600 deaths and more than 1 million displaced people in the first three months of 2025 alone.
Broader Regional Implications
The ongoing instability in Haiti has led to significant regional challenges. The Dominican Republic has been supporting Kenya with intelligence and medical assistance to soldiers wounded in Haiti.
The collaboration between Kenya and the Dominican Republic underscores the necessity for a coordinated international response to Haiti’s security crisis. Their joint efforts aim to stabilize the region and address the humanitarian challenges posed by the pervasive gang violence.
