Minustah Steals Goats

"This film is about outsiders," explains filmmaker Rachel Smith over the opening shot. For many years, she has been fascinated by Haiti, a country populated by the descendants of slaves and in the grip of violent gangs and United Nations peacekeepers. The peacekeeping force \i Mission des Nations Unies pour la stabilisation en Ha\'efti\i0 (MINUSTAH) has been active there since rebels attempted to seize power in 2004. Among the forces main tasks is to control the armed gangs in the shanty town Cit\'e9 Soleil. Many Haitians regard the blue-helmeted UN troops as an occupying force, scornfully chanting, "\i MINUSTAH vol\'e9 kabrit\i0" (MINUSTAH steals goats). Haitians are tired of interference from foreign organizations that promise a great deal, but rarely deliver. Smith meets Enock, the elected president of a community organization in Cit\'e9 Soleil that helps find support for local residents. She also interviews the American UN officer Chris and the Brazilian peacekeeper Marcos. She observes the contrasts between the UN soldiers and the local population. There are also conversations with the then head of the mission H\'e9di Annabi, who died when the UN headquarters collapsed during the 2010 earthquake. Two months after the disaster, Smith returns to the country.