The Security Council of the UN should decide on Thursday to extend by one year the mandate of the UN Mission for Stabilization in Haiti (MINUSTAH), as recommended by the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Sandra Honoré, the Special Representative of the UN in Haiti and Head of the Minustah.

Although the report of the Secretary-General emphasized the progress made in the stabilization of Haiti, since the deployment of the UN Mission in 2004, he notes, however, that we must continue the reconfiguration of the mission and "examine if a large multidimensional operation Peacekeeping remains the the most appropriate way to support the stabilization of Haiti." According to the report, it should be considered to replace the Minustah by a "mission of assistance of more limited size and better targeted" by 2016.

In the meantime, the process of downsizing of the mission will continue in accordance with the resolution 2070 of the Security Council. While the mission currently has 6,270 soldiers and 2,601 police officers, Mr. Ban recommends a further reduction of 15% of staff by next June.

Haitian journalist Clarence Renois, which highlights the growing controversy in the Haitian population surrounding the presence of the Minustah in Haiti, said that the mission is "very important for political stability" and that it is there "as a deterrent to prevent political groups confront each other in the street, and that the governments that are elected, can complete their mandate properly."

SL/ HaitiLibre