Mission On Track Despite False Alarm, say Officials

Otunge: US hasn’t suspended aid to Haiti mission
SAIG Godfrey Otunge stated that the Trump administration waived the executive order halting funding.

He noted that the only outstanding issue is the temporary suspension of approximately $13 million that the US contributed to the UN MSS Trust Fund. Otunge mentioned that this suspended amount constitutes less than three percent of the ongoing support to the MSS, which continues to receive robust backing from other contributing nations.
MSS force commander in Haiti Godfrey Otunge addressed the launch of the complaints reporting mechanism for the mission on February 5, 2025. /MSS/X
The force commander of the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti has rejected claims that the US has ceased aid to the force aimed at curbing gang violence in the Caribbean nation.

He labeled reports circulating across various media that the mission was impacted by President Donald Trump’s sweeping executive orders to halt foreign aid as misinformation.

During a press briefing on Wednesday, Inspector General of the Army (SAIG) Godfrey Otunge emphasized that the US government prioritizes the mission in Haiti, although structural adjustments are anticipated with any government transition.

“Nevertheless, as part of the US administration’s ongoing 90-day review of development assistance, the MSS mission continues without interruption, with all necessary mechanisms in place. The only pending matter is the temporary suspension of the disbursement of approximately $13 million that the US contributed to the UN MSS Trust Fund, pending the overall review of development assistance,” he stated.

Otunge clarified that this amount is less than three percent of the ongoing support to the MSS, which still receives significant contributions from other nations.

He affirmed that the UN Trust Fund remains funded to sustain the mission and added that the US government has suspended the enforcement of the executive order regarding aid to the MSS mission.

“The US and other partner countries continue to offer logistical, financial, and equipment support to the MSS, with support flights arriving almost daily. Both the Department of Defense and the Department of State remain actively involved in MSS operations,” he remarked.

Otunge’s clarification came in response to various reports on Wednesday claiming that the US government had mandated an immediate halt to its financial contributions to the MSS mission.

The reports indicated that the United Nations had received an official notification from the Trump administration to freeze its pledged support.

UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric conveyed that the US had committed $15 million to the mission’s trust fund, of which only $1. 7 million had been utilized, leaving $13. 3 million effectively frozen.

The US has not supplied police officers for the mission but is the largest financial supporter for training officers provided by participating nations, including Kenya.

The purported withdrawal of aid followed Trump’s recent executive order suspending US humanitarian assistance for 90 days to reassess spending.
Otunge stated that the mission is still on schedule, dispelling concerns as shown by the arrival of the El Salvador contingent on Tuesday and the expected arrival of the fourth Kenyan contingent on Thursday.