Sunday, 6th October 2024

France owns zero intention of military intervention in Haiti

France made its significant remark on the Military deployment in Haiti after the assassination of President Jovinel Moise.

Friday, 16th July 2021

French Army file pic
Haiti: France made its significant remark on the Military deployment in Haiti after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.

France Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian stated that Military intervention in Haiti "is not on the agenda."

Notably, Haiti asked the United States and United Nations to help secure key strategic sites following the attack, but France's Jean-Yves Le Drian on Thursday noted that the capital's airport and oil installations came under "police protection, not military".

The July 7 assassination of President Jovenel Moise, which came while a period of heightened gang violence & political instability, has plunged the country into confusion. Haiti is witnessing the state of emergency after this horrific incident for 15 days.

Also, France FM suggested France would be prepared to supply police if needed but said: "this must be done under the authority of the United Nations".

A dispatch of police officers "should be seen as part of a strengthening in the United Nations presence, which is currently insufficient, to be able to ensure the electoral process", he said outside a UN meeting on Libya and the protection of humanitarian workers.

Paris and Washington intervened militarily in Haiti in 2004 during the downfall of ex-leader Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

A UN peacekeeping mission followed between 2004 and 2007, comprising around 9,000 soldiers.

In October 2017, a police mission -- the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti -- took over and lasted until October 2019.

Any fresh UN operation would have to be authorized by the UN Security Council, according to several diplomats.

On Thursday, US President Joe Biden said sending American troops to Haiti was "not on the agenda".

Importantly, In the field of police cooperation, in addition to participating in the MINUSTAH, France is assisting long-term support for the professionalization of the Criminal Police. Attention is now centred on fighting planned crime, with a regional approach & programmes extended to all of the Greater Antilles.