Rights advocates in Haiti urge justice after UN confirms 4 Kenya-led mission sexual abuse cases 

PORT-AU-PRINCE — Haitian human rights organizations are demanding justice and reparations after the United Nations confirmed four cases of sexual exploitation and abuse involving members of the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in 2025.

The cases were detailed in a Feb. 16 report by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, which documented 298 allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse involving personnel linked to non-UN mission operations, similar to the MSS, worldwide in 2025— compared to 382 cases in 2024.

Advocates say the confirmed cases in Haiti reflect a broader, longstanding pattern of abuse tied to foreign interventions in the country — and warn that, once again, victims risk being left without justice.

The allegations come as the MSS begins withdrawing personnel from Haiti. More than 500 Kenyan police officers, along with Bahamian contingents, have returned home between December 2025 and March 2026.

For rights groups, the timing heightens concerns that accountability could be sidestepped.

“Victims must be compensated, and children deserve to have a father,” said Gardy Maisonneuve, executive director of Sant Karl Lévêque (SKL). “When you decide to leave the country without any established parental ties, it creates a problem.”

SKL said it has engaged with the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and MSS leadership, including mission commander Godfrey Otunge, to press for investigations and reparations.

The UN report states that all four cases were substantiated following investigations by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, underscoring the severity of the violations. They highlight serious misconduct in a mission meant to protect the Haitian population, damaging its core values, credibility and effectiveness.

Echoes of MINUSTAH-era abuses

Rights advocates say the cases are reminiscent of abuses committed during the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), which operated from 2004 to 2017.

During that period, more than 100 peacekeepers were implicated in sexual exploitation, including cases involving minors— both girls and boys— often in exchange for candy or a few dollars. Many, notably from Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Canada, were repatriated without facing prosecution in Haiti, and numerous children born from those relationships were left without paternal recognition or support.

“The same patterns are repeating,” said Jules Romulus, national coordinator of the Haitian Vision of Human Rights (VHDH, its French acronym). He called on Haitian authorities, the UN and the Kenyan government to ensure victims receive compensation and perpetrators face sanctions.

Romulus stressed that under international human rights standards, victims are entitled to justice, protection and reparations.

Limited transparency, no public sanctions

Despite the confirmed cases, no investigation findings or disciplinary measures have been made public.

The MSS has not responded to requests for comment from The Haitian Times. Previously, a Kenyan police communications officer said the mission was aware of allegations but that officers denied wrongdoing, adding that internal complaint mechanisms were handling the cases.

In one reported case, a 17-year-old girl was allegedly impregnated by a Kenyan officer. Local reports indicate the officer later died in an operation, leaving the child without support. The Haitian Times has not independently confirmed those details.

Another allegation of rape in the Artibonite department was dismissed by a mission representative as “propaganda,” though officials said all complaints are reviewed.

Advocates say such responses — coupled with a lack of public reporting — reinforce a culture of impunity.

Structural gaps in justice and reparations amid concerns as new force deploys

Beyond accountability, rights groups highlight systemic failures in compensating victims.

The multinational mission does not have a dedicated compensation mechanism for harm caused by its personnel. In one unrelated incident involving property damage, compensation reportedly relied on personal contributions from mission members rather than institutional funds.

While the UN says some assistance has been provided to victims, details remain unclear.

For advocates, the absence of clear legal pathways, financial reparations and long-term support — especially for children born from abusive relationships — remains a central concern.

The controversy comes as a new UN-backed force, the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), begins deploying in Haiti to replace the MSS.

An advance team from Chad arrived April 1 alongside the mission’s new leadership, marking the transition to a new phase of international security support.

Rights groups warn that without stronger safeguards, oversight and accountability mechanisms, the cycle of abuse could continue.

“The credibility of these missions depends on accountability,” Romulus said. “Without justice for victims, there can be no trust.”

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