A United Nations report has confirmed multiple cases of sexual abuse involving Kenyan police officers deployed in Haiti under the Multinational Security Support mission, raising fresh concerns over accountability in international peace operations.
According to the UN report on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, investigators substantiated four separate rape allegations linked to mission personnel. The cases involved female victims aged 12, 16, 16 and 18.
The investigations were conducted by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, which classified all four cases as violations corroborated. However, the report indicates that action taken against those responsible remains unclear, with most cases still listed as pending.
Mission under scrutiny
The Kenya-led Multinational Security Support mission began deployment in June 2024 following authorization by the UN Security Council. Its primary mandate was to help Haitian authorities curb escalating gang violence that has destabilized the Caribbean nation.
Despite this objective, the emergence of abuse allegations has intensified scrutiny over the mission’s conduct and oversight mechanisms. In one case involving a 12-year-old victim, the report noted that an internal investigation was conducted by the mission, though no further details were provided.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the organization would continue to follow up on such cases with the deployed force, stressing the importance of accountability in international missions.
He said the establishment of strong systems to prevent, investigate and publicly report abuses will be crucial to ensuring the credibility and effectiveness of the operation.
The issue comes as a new contingent from Chad arrived in Haiti on 1 April, expected to implement stricter safeguards against human rights violations.
Meanwhile, the developments follow closely after Kenya completed the withdrawal of its final group of officers, marking the end of the two-year deployment.
