UN extends Haiti gang force mandate despite capacity concerns
The Security Council renewed the Gang Suppression Force’s mandate to 31 March 2027 as violence persists and three members abstained over doubts about its effectiveness.
The United Nations Security Council has extended the Gang Suppression Force’s mandate in Haiti until 31 March 2027. China, Russia and Pakistan abstained, citing concerns about the measure’s effectiveness.
The force faces personnel and funding shortfalls while gang violence continues. Much of Port-au-Prince remains under the control of criminal networks, and the UN documented 1,408 killings and more than 650 injuries linked to gang violence between April and June.
The GSF can coordinate with Haiti’s military or operate independently, a broader role than its predecessor mission, which supported Haitian police. That mission ended in April after staffing and funding problems, with resources transitioning to the new force.
US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said about 1,500 troops were operating in Haiti, with another 4,000 expected in the coming months. The force is reported to be operating at about 30 per cent of its intended size.
Haiti requested international security assistance in 2022. National elections have not been held in almost a decade, and the next round is tentatively scheduled for December. More than 1.5 million people have been displaced from their homes.
