Benin backs Haiti military mission but rejects Kenyan police command

Benin has expressed its support for a military mission in Haiti, ready to deploy over 2,000 soldiers to assist in stabilizing the country. However, the Beninese government insists that its troops cannot be placed under the command of Kenyan police officers.

This position was reiterated by the Beninese Minister of Foreign Affairs in an interview with the Miami Herald. He stressed that military leadership by police officers is unacceptable, raising concerns about the effectiveness and operational coherence of such a command structure.

Meanwhile, last week the United States proposed to the UN an extension of the Multinational Force mandate in Haiti, which is currently set to expire on October 2. The Americans suggest a one-year extension, until October 2, 2025, and also propose transforming the Stabilization and Security Mission in Haiti (MSSM) into an official United Nations peacekeeping mission.