La Via Campesina raises its voice to strongly denounce the new imperialist offensive by the “Core Group¹” in Haiti. On October 2, 2023, during the United Nations Security Council meeting in New York, the United States and Ecuador succeeded in passing a resolution authorizing the deployment of a multinational force in Haiti.

Already, by the end of September, signs of this interference were emerging. During the 78th United Nations General Assembly in New York, we witnessed various parallel meetings that seemed to be preparing the ground for this intervention. The President of the Dominican Republic called for an intervention in Haiti, shortly after ordering the unjustified closure of its borders with the country. Furthermore, during a press conference, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry and Kenyan Minister of Foreign Affairs Alfred Nganga, applauding Kenya’s initiative to lead this invasion and providing 100 million dollars in support of this multinational force led by Kenya. The United States is thus paving the way for its geopolitical plan to strengthen its grip on this region and its commons. This strategy stems from their policy of “gangsterization” of Haiti, based on uncontrolled arms sales, creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity in Port-au-Prince, which the enemies of the Haitian people are now exploiting to justify this new imperialist interference.

Peasants from Kenya and Haiti reject the anti-peasant and pro-neoliberal measures of their respective governments. They join their voices to denounce the absurdity of an intervention by the Kenyan police force, known for its acts of brutality and violence, both towards its own citizens and civilians in Africa. Previous incidents include police violence during protests following the contested presidential elections of 2008, extrajudicial executions, sexual violence, and illegal detentions. The “Linda Nchi” operation in Somalia in 2011 also revealed a lack of respect for civil rights and arbitrary arrests of farmers on the border. Furthermore, disappearances of Kenyan police officers remain unresolved. Cases of excessive use of force and mistreatment of civilians during curfew hours during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 are also documented. It is legitimate to question why a police force with such a track record of human rights violations is being sent for this so-called “solidarity mission” in Haiti.

The Haitian people have had enough of so-called humanitarian interventions under the auspices of the UN, which, over the past 30 years, have failed to fulfill their promises and have exacerbated human rights violations in Haiti. Since 1993, UN missions in Haiti, such as UNMIH, UNSMIH, UNTMIH, MIPONUH, MICAH, MINUSTAH, MINUJUSTH, and UNIHRO, have resulted in a heavy toll in terms of human lives and resources, without achieving a genuine solution. MINUSTAH even brought cholera to Haiti, adding to the excessive use of force and injuries during protests, as well as cases of sexual exploitation and abuse. These missions have kept the country in poverty, coexisting with the prevailing impunity in the country, the elimination of the peasant class and local agriculture, all while strengthening the grip of the “Core Group” on Haiti.

We strongly oppose this new neocolonial interference that the United States is trying to promote through its satellite governments and the complicity of the United Nations Security Council. Economic interests must not take precedence over the human rights of Haitians. Peasant and social organizations have already presented solutions based on popular autonomy and food sovereignty through the August 30th Agreement, also known as the Montana Agreement. This agreement has allowed local organizations to create a proposal for a democratic, participatory, and people-driven transition for the Haitian people. It outlines a concrete plan to resolve the current crisis : The Haitian Solution to the Crisis in Haiti, while avoiding interference from corrupt and imperialist powers responsible for social, political, and economic turmoil.

We say no to the United States and the “Core Group” in Haiti! No to armed intervention by Kenya! For a Haiti free from foreign interference! Let us respect the Haitian solution for Haiti.

1The Haiti Core Group is composed of the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations, the Ambassadors of Brazil, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Spain, and the United States of America, as well as the Special Representative of the Organization of American States.

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