Mission in the Caribbean—MINUSTAH

Abstract

In 1993, the UN Security Council (UNSC) established its first peace operation in Haiti; UN Mission in Haiti (UNMIH), a combined police and military mission, to support the creation of a new police force and modernizing the Haitian armed forces. In July 1994, the UNSC authorized the deployment of a 20,000 troops strong multinational force to facilitate the prompt return of the legitimate Haitian authorities, maintain a secure and stable environment in the country, and promote the Rule of Law. The multinational force was followed by a number of successive UN peace missions from 1994 to 2000, including UNMIH, UN Transition Mission in Haiti (UNTMIH) and UN Civilian Police Mission in Haiti (MIPONUH). In February 2004, an armed conflict broke out. The UNSC responded by adopting resolution 1529 (2004), authorizing the Multinational Interim Force (MIF)¹ to act under Chapter VII and declaring the Council’s readiness to establish a follow-on UN force to support continuation of a peaceful and constitutional political process and the maintenance of a secure and stable environment. On 30 April 2004 the UNSC adopted resolution 1542 establishing the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), which took over authority from the MIF on 1 June 2004. In this chapter the ongoing MINUSTAH mission is explored.