International

US Reportedly Refuses to Send Military Help to Haiti Despite Request From Interim Government

12/07/2021

by Aleksandra Serebriakova
Jul 12, 2021

Haiti’s interim government led by Claude Joseph officially asked for help from the US and UN to protect the country as it reels from the recent assassination of President Jovenel Moise. Haiti has been in a state of emergency since 7 July.

Washington has “no plans” to provide Haiti with military assistance, a senior administration official told NPR in light of President Jovenel Moise’s assassination.

Port-au-Prince asked both the United States and UN to deploy troops in the country as it faces a constitutional crisis with Acting Prime Minister Claude Joseph and Senate President Joseph Lambert battling for control.

“In response to the Haitian government’s request for security and investigative assistance, we will be sending senior FBI and [Department of Homeland Security] officials to Port-au-Prince as soon as possible to assess the situation and how we may be able to assist,” the official added.

Pentagon Spokesperson John Kirby earlier said that the request from the Haitian government had been under consideration by the department. He explained that a team of Department of Homeland Security and FBI officials has been dispatched to Haiti to help local officials investigate Moise’s death.

“I think that’s really where our energies are best applied right now in helping them get their arms around investigating this incident and figuring out who’s culpable, who’s responsible and how best to hold them accountable going forward,” Kirby said on Sunday.

A source from the administration confirmed to NPR that a “technical team” of assistants was sent to the country on 11 July, but added that it also includes representatives from the National Security Council, State Department, and Department of Justice.