Overview:
Carlos Ruiz Massieu, a seasoned Mexican diplomat, was appointed July 2 as head of the United Nations diplomatic mission in Haiti amid a worsening multidimensional disaster. Tasked with main political and humanitarian efforts, his nomination follows pressing UN calls to bolster the built-in mission’s (BINUH) mandate and curb gang violence as Haiti faces escalating insecurity and state collapse.
PORT-AU-PRINCE — Mexican diplomat Carlos Ruiz Massieu was appointed July 2 because the particular consultant of the United Nations Secretary-Basic and head of the UN Built-in Workplace in Haiti (BINUH), changing Ecuadoran María Isabel Salvador, whose mandate led to June.
The UN has not but introduced when Massieu will arrive in Haiti. He takes on the position at a very difficult time, because the nation grapples with institutional collapse, spiraling gang violence and a deepening humanitarian disaster.
In her farewell remarks posted on X in Creole, Salvador praised the resilience of the Haitian individuals.
“Haiti is a rustic that has deeply moved me — via the heat of its individuals, their braveness and their willpower to maneuver ahead regardless of every kind of hardships,” Salvador wrote.
“I met men and women from all backgrounds, carrying hope, concepts and a real will to construct a greater future for the subsequent generations.”
As BINUH’s new chief, Massieu will likely be tasked with advancing political stabilization, restoring the rule of regulation and bolstering humanitarian efforts — all requiring sustained coordination and dedication from the worldwide group.
“With out elevated motion from the worldwide group, the whole collapse of state presence within the [Haitian] capital may turn into a actuality.”
Miroslav Jenča, UN Assistant Secretary-Basic
The UN described Massieu as a seasoned diplomat with greater than 30 years of expertise in diplomacy and public service, together with senior positions in each bilateral and multilateral settings. Most not too long ago, he led the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia, the place he oversaw the peace accord’s implementation between the Colombian authorities and the FARC-EP insurgent group.
His work in Colombia additionally concerned facilitating political dialogue with the Nationwide Liberation Military (ELN) and different armed teams. The UN famous that Massieu’s strategy — centered on listening and mediation — has earned reward from worldwide companions.
He beforehand chaired the Basic Meeting’s Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions from 2013 to 2018. Previous to becoming a member of the UN, he held a number of roles throughout the Mexican authorities and at Mexico’s everlasting mission to the UN. Massieu holds a regulation diploma from Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico and a grasp’s in political science from the College of Essex in the UK, with a deal with Latin America.
Massieu’s appointment got here after a UN Safety Council meeting on July 2, requested by the A3++ group, together with Sierra Leone, Somalia, Algeria and Guyana, in response to a letter from the Dominican authorities, Haiti’s closest neighboring nation. Throughout the assembly, council members known as for strengthening BINUH’s mandate, strictly imposing the arms embargo, imposing focused sanctions on these financing armed teams and reassessing the scope of the Multinational Safety Assist Mission (MSS) in Haiti.
Final week, Latin American nations—forming the Group of American States (OAS)—known as for an pressing Haiti help plan as gangs develop and a robust worldwide mission stalls. Adopting a resolution for fast motion to deal with the nation’s “multidimensional disaster,” members instructed OAS Secretary Basic Albert Ramdin to current a plan inside 45 days to shore up safety, present humanitarian help and assist manage free and honest elections.
“Haiti wants an pressing, united response,” Ramdin informed OAS delegates. He urged everlasting observer states to hitch in sustained diplomatic and materials help. “This isn’t merely an ethical obligation however a shared accountability. Haiti’s path to peace and restoration depends upon collective motion.”
Because the Haitian state continues to lose territory to gangs, the hemispheric group has adopted a decision to help native authorities in important areas, together with safety, humanitarian help, political dialogue and elections
UN Assistant Secretary-Basic Miroslav Jenča described the state of affairs in Haiti as “dire” and warned of a possible “collapse of state presence within the capital.” A latest BINUH report famous greater than 4,000 homicides recorded between January and June — a 24% improve over the identical interval in 2024 — and over 1.3 million internally displaced individuals.
“With out elevated motion from the worldwide group, the whole collapse of state presence within the capital may turn into a actuality,” Jenča mentioned.
Govt director of the UN Workplace on Medication and Crime (UNODC), Ghada Fathy Waly, echoed Jenča’s assertion, condemning the emergence of parallel governance programs run by armed teams.
“Haiti wants an pressing, united response. This isn’t merely an ethical obligation however a shared accountability. Haiti’s path to peace and restoration depends upon collective motion.”
Albert Ramdin, OAS Secretary Basic
Throughout the safety council assembly, U.S. consultant John Kelley supported the Kenya-led MSS, advocating for its evolution into a completely mandated UN peacekeeping drive. Nonetheless, China and Russia—as that they had repeatedly performed beforehand— opposed the proposal, emphasizing institution-building over what they known as “untimely militarization.”
Haiti’s consultant reaffirmed that any resolution should be Haitian-led whereas urging better help to BINUH — notably in tackling sexual violence, defending kids and reinforcing border safety.
With Haiti teetering on the sting of full state failure, the worldwide group now locations excessive expectations on Massieu to revitalize the UN’s mission. His experience in peacebuilding and diplomacy may show essential in fostering the nation’s stabilization.