The force commander of the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti has dismissed claims that the US has suspended aid to the force tasked with suppressing gang violence in the Caribbean country.
He termed reports circulating across various media platforms that the mission was affected by President Donald Trump’s sweeping executive orders to halt foreign aid as misinformation.
Speaking during a press briefing on Wednesday, Inspector General of the Army (SAIG) Godfrey Otunge said the mission in Haiti remains a priority for the US government but as with any transition in government, structural adjustments are expected.
“However, as part of the US administration’s ongoing 90-day review of development assistance, the MSS mission continues without interruption, with all necessary mechanisms in place. The only pending matter is the temporary suspension of the disbursement of approximately $13 million that the US contributed to the UN MSS Trust Fund, pending the overall review of development assistance,” he said.
Otunge said the amount is less than three per cent of the ongoing assistance to the MSS, which continues to receive strong support from other contributing nations.
The UN Trust Fund, he affirmed, remains funded to sustain the mission, adding that the US government suspended the execution of the executive order on the suspension of aid to the MSS mission.
“The US and other partner countries continue to provide logistical, financial, and equipment support to the MSS, with support flights arriving almost daily. Both the Department of Defense and the Department of State remain actively engaged in MSS operations,” he said.
Otunge’s clarification followed various publications on Wednesday that the US government had ordered an immediate stop to its financial contribution to the MSS mission.
The reports said the United Nations confirmed receiving an official notification from the Trump administration to freeze its pledged support.
UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric was quoted as having said the US had committed US$15 million to the mission’s trust fund, but only US$1.7 million had been used, leaving US$13.3 million frozen.
The US did not provide police officers for the mission, but it’s the largest financial backer for training of officers provided by participating nations including Kenya.
The alleged withdrawal of its aid followed Trump’s recent executive order suspending US humanitarian aid for 90 days to reassess spending.
But Otunge said it was a false alarm as the mission remains on track, evidenced by the arrival of the El Salvador contingent on Tuesday and the anticipated arrival of the fourth Kenyan contingent on Thursday.
He said the mission is also expected to receive CASEVAC and MEDEVAC helicopters from El Salvador by the end of this week.
“The MSS remains fully committed to restoring peace in Haiti,” Otunge said.
