Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly reveals Canada’s commitment to aiding an international military intervention in Haiti, with specific details of Canada’s role yet to be determined.
“Canada has always been involved in issues related to Haiti. We will continue to be,” Joly expressed during a press conference on Parliament Hill.
“We want to do more. So we’ll continue these diplomatic conversations, and I would say that we’ll also continue to support solutions that are by and for Haitians.”
The United Nations Security Council has recently approved a multinational force to combat violent gangs in Haiti, with Kenya offering to lead the initiative.
Joly has engaged in discussions with her Kenyan counterpart and Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations, Bob Rae, to explore ways in which Canada can contribute to the intervention.
Haiti’s unelected prime minister requested international intervention last year, prompting divergent opinions among Haitians, although the United Nations and Washington support the idea.
Joly emphasized Canada’s historical involvement in Haiti’s affairs and expressed the belief that Canada will continue to play an active role in aiding the country.
However, she did not provide any specific details regarding the assistance Canada has offered.
Haiti has been experiencing a severe security crisis due to the presence of criminal gangs since mid-2021, leading to widespread violence and difficulties in accessing essential resources such as water, food, and medical care.
While Washington requested Canada to lead a military intervention, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed concerns about the long-term stability that such an intervention can bring, citing previous interventions that, in his perspective, only worsened Haiti’s stability.
In March, Canada’s top military general stated that there are insufficient armed forces available to lead the mission.
Instead of a military intervention, Joly has implemented sanctions on various political and economic elites in Haiti, with the intention of encouraging consensus among political actors and finding solutions that offer the best support to Haitians, ultimately leading to stability and the holding of elections.
© 2023 The Canadian Press
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