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Message: [QUOTE="Nehanda, post: 24891, member: 2262"] U.S. Exempts Haiti Mission From Aid Freeze, Kenya's Ruto Says. Kenyan President William Ruto announced Thursday that U.S. support for the Haiti security mission remains intact despite a broader foreign aid suspension. The decision emerged from talks between Ruto and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, underscoring the mission's vital role in Haiti's stabilization efforts. "The United States has excluded its support for the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti from the federal assistance pause," Ruto said, emphasizing the need to maintain the mission's momentum. This exemption highlights Washington's commitment to select security partnerships amid widespread funding cuts. The U.S.-backed United Nations mission, led by Kenya, aims to restore order in Haiti as the nation grapples with gang violence and political turmoil. The continuation of funding comes after President Donald Trump's executive order halted most foreign aid programs. Kenya maintains its position as a crucial U.S. ally in East Africa, with partnerships spanning counterterrorism, regional stability, and economic growth. The exemption reinforces Kenya's role in international security operations. The discussion between Ruto and Rubio extended to regional concerns, particularly the ongoing crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Their talks precede a joint meeting of the Southern African Development Community and the East African Community in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The weekend summit will address security challenges in the DRC, where both regional organizations maintain peacekeeping forces. Kenya has served as a key mediator in these peace efforts, though recent developments saw Kinshasa shift support from the East African Community force toward SADC-led interventions. The U.S. decision to maintain funding for the Haiti mission demonstrates Washington's selective approach to international security commitments, even as broader aid programs face suspension. [/QUOTE]

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