The withdrawal of Uruguayan troops that had already been announced by former President Jose Mujica, without a specific date, was confirmed by Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez who announced on Monday that the 250 Uruguayan soldiers remaining in Haiti as part of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (Minustah), will return to Uruguay in April 2017.

"[...] The active exercise in the Minustah mission will end at the end of March," President Vazquez said in a cabinet meeting open to the public that took place in the seaside resort of San Luis, about 60 kilometers East of Montevideo. He added that the troops would remain in Haiti for a few days to recover their equipment and coordinate their return to Uruguay with the United Nations, but reported that in April they will all return.

Note that during the exercise of this peacekeeping mission, more than once the Uruguayan soldiers were involved in the allegations of sexual abuse. According to an army report, since 2011, 6 complaints have been received, including four paternity claims. According to the Uruguayan army the soldiers involved in these cases, represent only 0.2% of the total staff deployed between 2011 and 2014.

SL/ iciHaiti