Suriname is set to deploy troops to Haiti

Suriname has stepped forward as the latest member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) willing to deploy troops to Haiti as part of a United Nations-endorsed Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission, with Kenya slated to lead the effort.

President Chandrikapersad Santokhi affirmed Suriname’s commitment to its CARICOM neighbor, stating, “We will support our CARICOM sister state. We will provide support through, among other things, a police mission that will be led by Kenya.”

Speaking to the Suriname-based publication Starnieuws, Santokhi highlighted the dire situation in Haiti, comparing the daily death toll there to that of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. He expressed concern over the lack of sufficient aid reaching Haiti from the international community.

Santokhi stressed the need for support for Haiti on multiple fronts—internationally, regionally, and bilaterally. He mentioned the United Nations Security Council’s recent resolution approving the deployment of an international police mission to Haiti. Santokhi disclosed that Suriname’s ministers of justice, police, and defense are collaborating with the Suriname Police Corps and the National Army to assemble a team for deployment to Port-au-Prince.

However, Santokhi emphasized the importance of thorough training for the personnel being sent, underscoring that Suriname will not hastily dispatch its people into a complex and volatile situation. He pointed out the interconnectedness of global challenges, noting that solidarity with nations in crisis may be reciprocated in the future.

Haiti has been mired in political turmoil and social upheaval since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021. In response to the crisis, a nine-member transitional council has been inaugurated to pave the way for free and fair elections by 2025.