U.N. Security Council Renews Haiti Security Mission Amid Opposition from Russia and China

The U.N. Security Council has extended the mandate of an international security force in Haiti for another year despite U.S. efforts to transform it into a U.N. peacekeeping mission, facing opposition from Russia and China. Haiti seeks urgent conversion to a peacekeeping mission amidst worsening gang violence and insecurity.

The U.N. Security Council has unanimously extended the mandate of an international security force in Haiti for another year. The United States' push to transform this force into a U.N. peacekeeping mission was dropped due to opposition from Russia and China.

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Linda Thomas-Greenfield, emphasized the need to support Haiti's call for a peacekeeping mission. Haitian leaders warned of increasing insecurity due to powerful gangs armed with U.S.-trafficked weapons controlling the capital and spreading to nearby areas.

Haiti's U.N. Ambassador Antonio Rodrigue highlighted the urgency of transforming the security mission into a U.N. peacekeeping operation to secure stable funding and expanded capacities. Russia and China, however, argued for giving more time to the current mission, with China's Deputy U.N. Ambassador citing inadequate conditions for a peacekeeping deployment.

(With inputs from agencies.)