Kenya Disputes UN Report on Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Its Haiti Mission Personnel

Kenya has formally protested a United Nations report that alleges involvement of its personnel in sexual abuse cases during a security mission in Haiti. The mission, authorized by the UN Security Council, aimed to address gang violence. Kenya's Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi sent a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressing concern over the allegations, which were first reported in August 2023.

The UN secretary-general's report, made public last week, implicates officers from the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in four cases of rape and other forms of sexual violence. Three of the alleged victims are children: one aged 12 and two aged 16. The report notes that each allegation was communicated to the MSS force commander.

Mudavadi stated that the claims were investigated through an inquiry and found to be unsubstantiated. He added that no formal complaints were filed with any authority, and findings were shared with Haitian and UN bodies. The minister emphasized that MSS personnel adhered to all rules, with no reports identifying misconduct.

The UN report indicates that the allegations were substantiated by investigations conducted by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

According to the UN, the allegations are currently under review. The report includes a statement on the matter.

“Sexual exploitation and abuse represent a fundamental betrayal of the trust placed in the United Nations and its partners by the communities it serves." — United Nations report The Kenya-led MSS was deployed to Haiti in 2024 to combat gang violence, following UN Security Council authorization. The force was intended to have up to 2,500 members but fell short of that target. It faced operational and funding challenges, limiting its ability to reduce violence.”