Security Council renews mandate of UN support mission in Haiti

UNITED NATIONS, April 10 (Xinhua) -- The Security Council on Tuesday decided to extend the mandate of the UN Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH) for a year, and to scale down the UN police presence in the country.

Resolution 2410 extended MINUJUSTH's mandate till April 15, 2019, to assist the Haitian government to strengthen rule, develop the national police and engage in human rights monitoring.

The resolution said that the UN mission's police component will maintain seven formed police units and 295 individual police officers till Oct. 15, 2018.

In the next six months of the renewed mandate, the police component will be downsized to five formed police units and 295 individual police officers, "with any reduction taking into account the evolving security situation in Haiti and adjusted accordingly."

The resolution affirmed the intention of the Security Council to consider the withdrawal of MINUJUSTH and transition to a non-peacekeeping presence in Haiti beginning no sooner than Oct. 15, 2019.

MINUJUSTH is already a smaller police mission than its predecessor, the UN Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), which was composed of military personnel. MINUJUSTH replaced MINUSTAH on Oct. 16, 2017. Enditem