UN Ends Haiti Peacekeeping Operations, Urges End To Crisis

The UN Security Council ended 15 years of peacekeeping operations in Haiti on Tuesday, voicing regret that the country is still saddled with huge economic, political and social woes.

The United Nations first sent peacekeepers to Haiti after then president Jean-Bertrand Aristide was overthrown by the army in 2004 under the pressure of a popular uprising.

In 2017 those soldiers were replaced by a UN police mission whose numbers dropped gradually from 1,300 to 600 and are now to be replaced by a scaled down political mission.

Haiti today remains the poorest country in the Americas, plagued by political instability.

Over the past year it has sunk deeper into political crisis as anti-corruption protests demanding President Jovenel Moise's resignation roil the Caribbean nation.

On Tuesday the US ambassador to the UN, Kelly Craft, said Haiti is at a crossroads.

"We urge Haiti's political, economic, and civil society stakeholders to work peacefully to address the most pressing economic and social challenges facing the country," Craft said.

Craft recalled that the United States is Haiti's main bilateral benefactor, providing $5.2 billion in aid since a devastating earthquake hit the country in 2010.

Since coming to power in February 2017, Moise has faced the anger of an opposition movement that refuses to recognize his victory in an election widely seen as dubious.

Anger mounted in late August due to a national fuel shortage, and protests turned violent.

Haiti has just a caretaker government these days and legislative elections that were supposed to be held this month have been postponed indefinitely.

Moise is seeking dialogue with the opposition but the latter has refused so far.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres sounded pessimistic about Haiti in a report released Tuesday.

"The protracted multidimensional crisis with which it has been contending since July 2018 shows little sign of abatement or resolution," Guterres wrote.

"I urge all actors to set aside their differences and particular interests to work together to overcome the increasingly preoccupying situation," he added.