US mulls transitioning Haiti Mission into a UN peace keeping operation

In an interesting turn of events, the United States is mulling a transition of the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM) into a United Nations Peacekeeping Mission.

According to a report by the Miami Herald, a news agency in Port au Prince, the move is aimed at solidifying funding and long-term intervention by the team that deploys to the gang-laden country.

"In coordination with partners, the United States is exploring options to bolster the Multinational Security Support mission and ensure the support that the MSS is providing Haitians is sustained long-term and ultimately paves the way to security conditions permitting free and fair elections," the paper says quoting a US national security official.

The mission in its current form has been facing challenges linked to salary delays for the Kenyan officers deployed in the last two months.

The delay was sorted out this week after complaints were made through the media.

The Kenyan team comprises about 400 policemen who arrived in the Caribbean in two batches starting in June.

Since then, no other country has deployed to the mission that was meant to adopt a multinational look from the onset.

The delays by other countries to deploy have raised concerns especially now that the predeployment period has entered its last month.

"The switch is both an acknowledgement of the administration's struggle to attract voluntary contributions for the mission, which the administration says roughly costs $200 million every six months to operate," added Miami Herald.

The paper noted that a traditional UN peacekeeping operation would end the mission's problems with funding because it would be paid for through member nations' traditionally assessed contributions.

"It would also provide more equipment like helicopters, which the current Kenya-led mission lacks, and possibly a hospital capable of performing surgeries. Also, the UN would be able to mobilize military forces, rather than just cops, from other nations in a way that the US has been unable to do," the paper adds.

For that to happen, the mission must get the nod of the UN Security Council.

At the moment it's not clear whether that support would be forthcoming, especially considering the low contribution to the UN trust fund initiated to support the current mission and the evident fatigue stemming from past failed missions.