President William Ruto has called on the African Union (AU) Assembly to adopt a Draft Declaration on AU Solidarity with Haiti.
According to Ruto, the AU should reinforce the Caribbean nation’s status as part of Africa’s Sixth Region and as a way of showing support for its security mission.
Further, speaking during the 38th Ordinary Assembly of the AU on Sunday, February 16, Ruto noted that Haiti is a country with deep historical ties to the continent, and therefore deserving of the move.
Africa is home to 1.369 billion people and is divided into five subregions by the United Nations. These include Northern Africa, West Africa, Central Africa, East Africa, and Southern Africa.
Northern Africa is the largest by land area but has only five countries, while Southern Africa is the smallest and least populated, with six nations. East Africa is the most populous, comprising 18 countries, followed by West Africa with 16 and Central Africa with 9.
At the same time, Ruto is advocating for the MSS to transition into a full UN Peacekeeping Operation.
”President William Ruto proposes the adoption of a Draft Declaration on AU Solidarity with Haiti at the AU Assembly, to affirm its status as part of Africa’s Sixth Region and ensure sustained support for the mission, including advocating for a transition of the MSS into a UN Peacekeeping Operation,” he said.
This would mean that the operation would receive even more international funding to sustain the stability efforts. Additionally, more troops and logistical support would be given to the peacekeeping efforts.
