Pope Warns of ‘Desperate’ Haiti Crisis as Kenyan-Led Security Mission Faces Mounting Pressure

Port-au-Prince, Haiti – Pope Leo XIV has issued a stark warning over Haiti’s deteriorating security and humanitarian situation, describing conditions in the Caribbean nation as “increasingly desperate.” Speaking from Rome on Sunday, the Pontiff cited an alarming rise in murders, gang violence, human trafficking, forced exile, and kidnappings, and called for the immediate release of hostages. He urged the international community to act swiftly to create conditions for Haitians “to live in peace, with dignity and security.”

Escalation of Violence and Emergency Measures

The Pope’s appeal comes as Haiti grapples with an intense wave of gang violence that has forced the government to declare a three-month state of emergency in its western, Artibonite, and central departments. The decision, announced last week, aims to quell armed clashes and restore stability in areas that have become epicentres of insecurity.

Artibonite, traditionally known as Haiti’s “rice basket,” has been transformed into a conflict zone, with armed groups controlling key roads, looting farms, and disrupting food production. The disruption has deepened a worsening food crisis, threatening millions with hunger.

According to the United Nations human rights office, between October 2024 and June 2025, the Artibonite and Central departments recorded over 1,000 killings, more than 200 injuries, and 620 kidnappings – figures that underscore the scale of lawlessness gripping the country.

Kenya’s Role and Challenges Ahead

Kenya, which leads the UN-backed Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti, is now under growing pressure to deliver results. The mission, designed to assist Haitian police in reclaiming gang-controlled areas, has made some operational gains in Port-au-Prince. Kenyan officers, working alongside Haitian security forces, have launched intensified patrols and raids to push gangs out of strategic neighbourhoods.

However, both Haitian and Kenyan officials acknowledge that the mission’s effectiveness is hampered by limited resources and insufficient international backing. Rights groups warn that without sustained support, the surge in violence risks derailing progress and undermining public confidence in the multinational effort.

A Call for Global Responsibility

Pope Leo XIV’s intervention adds moral weight to calls for urgent global engagement in Haiti. His message, aimed at galvanising governments and humanitarian agencies, reflects a growing consensus that the crisis cannot be resolved through security operations alone. Aid agencies stress that any long-term solution must combine security stabilisation with economic recovery and governance reforms.

With the emergency measures in place until late 2025, Haiti’s immediate future hinges on whether the international community can mobilise quickly enough to match the scale of its crisis – and whether the Kenyan-led mission can stabilise conditions long enough to give the country a chance at recovery.