Benin, a West African country, is expected to be a key partner in the multinational security mission assisting Haiti in combating violent gangs. This African nation had pledged to provide the largest single force of 1,500 to 2,000 soldiers, who would also be the only native French speakers involved in the campaign. However, the deployment plans now seem to be on hold. The question remains as to whom the Beninese troops, primarily military personnel, will answer to once deployed in Haiti, and whether the international effort to stabilize and secure the country ahead of elections should be led by police or military forces.

"Our position and commitment remain the same: to assist Haiti," said Benin's Foreign Minister, Shegun Adjadi Bakari, in an interview with the Miami Herald. "But from the beginning... we clearly stated that what Haiti needs is not a police mission. We believe that a military mission is needed in Haiti to fight the gangs, restore security in the country, and reestablish stability, which is a prerequisite for any election."