The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) officially launched in October 2019, ushering in a new phase of international engagement with Haiti that moved away from the traditional peacekeeping model that had defined the UN’s presence in the country since 2004.
BINUH’s mandate was significantly different from that of its predecessors. Rather than deploying uniformed peacekeeping troops, the new mission would rely on civilian and police advisors to support Haitian-led efforts on political dialogue, security sector reform, rule of law, and human rights promotion. The mission was also tasked with supporting the organization of long-overdue legislative elections.
The launch of BINUH was met with mixed reactions within Haiti. Some civil society leaders welcomed the shift toward a less militarized approach, arguing that a Haitian-led security agenda was essential for the country’s sovereignty and dignity. Others expressed skepticism that a smaller, advisory-focused mission would have meaningful influence during a period of acute political crisis.
The UN’s Special Representative for Haiti used the occasion to call on Haitian political leaders to prioritize dialogue and find a consensual path toward elections. The new mission faced the immediate challenge of operating in an environment where the basic political conditions for progress appeared to be lacking.