Elections ‘Only Credible Path’ Back to Constitutional Order in Haiti, Mission Chief Tells Security Council, as Gang Suppression Force Speeds Deployment
Despite positive political developments in Haiti, international security support is needed to create conditions conducive to holding planned elections, the Security Council heard today, as members debated how that support should operate in a context where minors are caught up in the gangs destabilizing the country.
Following repeated calls for help from Haitian authorities in addressing rampant gang violence, the Council authorized the deployment of a Multinational Security Support mission, led by Kenya, in 2023. The mission was mandated to support the Haitian National Police in countering gangs and protecting critical infrastructure.
Two years later, it decided to transition that mission into the Gang Suppression Force, authorizing participating States participating to conduct — either independently or together with Haitian forces — operations to “neutralize” gangs threatening civilians.
Meanwhile, the Council recently renewed the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), established in 2019 to provide electoral, judicial, human-rights and other support. In doing so, it revised its mandated tasks around six priorities, one of which being to support the organizing and holding of municipal, parliamentary and presidential elections in 2026.
Haiti’s Progress ‘Real But Fragile’ without Improved Security
“Haiti stands at a pivotal moment, where political and institutional progress is laying the foundations for a credible path forward,” said Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti and Head of BINUH.
The transfer of executive authority to Haiti’s Council of Ministers on 7 February “ensured institutional continuity at a moment of significant vulnerability”, he noted. He spotlighted the recent completion of political party registration — “the first since 2016” — as well as updates to the electoral legal framework and recent holding of Council of Ministers meetings at the National Palace in Port-au-Prince after more than three years of limited State presence in that area.
“This progress is real, but the context remains fragile,” he warned. Recent attacks in the Jean-Denis and Marigot areas are “tragic reminders that insecurity remains a daily reality for far too many Haitians”. He stressed: “Without tangible improvements on the security front, progress will be difficult to sustain.”
He also underscored the need to address the flow of illicit arms and ammunition, observing that, “when access to ammunition is reduced, violence declines; when supply resumes, large-scale attacks follow.” He called for strengthened implementation of the arms embargo, as well as efforts to combat trafficking and tighten weapons controls, to break this cycle.
More broadly, he urged “constant, united commitment” from the Council to ensure the coherence of international support and “walk alongside Haiti on the path of sustainable stabilization”. Concluding, he cited a Haitian proverb — “Men anpil, chay pa lou” (which corresponds to the English proverb: “Many hands make light work”).
Haiti Calls for Rapid Deployment of Gang Suppression Force, as United States Keeps Mission’s Exit in Focus
Next, Jack Christofides, Special Representative for the Gang Suppression Force, told the Council that “we are at a critical early phase of establishing the GSF”. Acknowledging the efforts of the Multinational Security Support mission — “we are not starting from zero” — he said that the Force is being built as a “disciplined, accountable and partnership-driven mission, designed to deliver targeted security results while upholding the highest standards of conduct and full respect for Haitian sovereignty”.
A deployment plan has been developed in consultation with Haitian authorities, he said, with objective to degrade gangs’ operational capacity to a level that Haitian institutions can sustainably manage. “Deployments will take place in phases over the coming months,” he reported, acknowledging that “expectations remain high”. Highlighting the Force’s close collaboration with regional partners, he also pointed to joint planning with the Haitian National Police to establish clear operating procedures, including on detention, transfer and judicial processing.
“We are fully aware of the risks inherent in this mission,” he said, stressing that civilian protection, the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, and human rights law will be central. The Force is “a focused and time-bound effort” designed to enable Haitian institutions to regain control and create conditions for long-term stability.
For his part, Haiti’s Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé told the Council that the transitional Government has three priorities: Restoring State authority; protecting the population; and preparing for the return of constitutional order. However, “without security, no development is possible”, and he urged the immediate deployment of the Gang Suppression Force. He added: “The Haitian people are not asking for charity. We are asking for solidarity and for means to rebuild our future.”
“We are not measuring success by what international forces can achieve in Haiti — we are measuring success by how quickly Haiti will no longer need them,” said the representative of the United States. She, too, noted that the Force is designed to “create space for Haitian forces to expand, professionalize, and ultimately, assume responsibility”. And while the Force addresses the security situation, “we break the cycle of violence by pairing credible off-ramps with real economic opportunity so, when the guns fall silent, jobs may follow”.
With Minors Comprising Half of Haiti’s Gang Members, Focus Turns to ‘Safe Exits’, Highest Standards of Conduct
Along those lines, Panama’s representative pointed out that around 50 per cent of gang members are minors — “victims of a lack of opportunity”. He joined others in spotlighting the importance of the National Commission for Disarmament, Dismantling and Reintegration to “offer safe exit ways and a way to break the cycle of violence”. He also underlined the need to effectively implement the “clear safeguards” contained in resolution 2793 (2025) establishing the Gang Suppression Force regarding prevention, behaviour, supervision and investigation.
France’s representative similarly said the Force must ensure “exemplary behaviour”, part of a “triple imperative” to avoid a security vacuum and prevent all forms of violence and abuse. France lent its technical and financial support to the Force’s creation, he added.
The representative of Denmark echoed calls for the Force to uphold the highest standards of conduct and discipline, accompanied by robust oversight and transparency. Efforts to establish security in Haiti must strictly comply with international law and she called for full implementation of the arms embargo.
Others also spotlighted the importance of the embargo, with China’s representative calling on “the main source country of arms and ammunition” to strictly implement the measure. The Russian Federation’s representative named that country — the United States — while noting that the Gang Suppression Force was given a broad and vague mandate regarding the use of force.
Underlining the need to respect and protect the rights and lives of Haitian civilians — primarily children — he observed: “Many of them, unfortunately, have been recruited into criminal gangs and are going to fire at peacekeepers — and this will raise the difficult challenge of choosing how to respond to, and properly treat, minors.”
Civilian Protection, Justice Go Hand in Hand
The protection of civilians, stressed Colombia’s representative, must be “the lodestar of any operation”. Civilians cannot be considered collateral damage, and children associated with gangs must be reintegrated. The representative of the United Kingdom, in that vein, urged the Government to ensure that children are treated primarily as victims and can enter fit-for-purpose disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes. The representative of Pakistan welcomed BINUH’s support in this context.
Meanwhile, Greece’s representative pointed out that the justice system must be “reformed to manage the projected increase in arrests following GSF deployment”, with a specific focus on ending prolonged pre-trial detention — “especially for children”. The representative of Latvia concurred: “Law-enforcement action must be matched by credible investigations, timely prosecutions and fair adjudication, ensuring that arrests lead to convictions grounded in full respect of due process.”
On that, the representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo — also speaking for Liberia and Somalia — expressed concern that over 82 per cent of the prison population in Haiti is still held in pretrial detention. Nevertheless, he joined others in welcoming positive political developments. Now, the Government must work to address remaining challenges — “by which we mean the finalization of the electoral framework and mobilizing sufficient resources”.
Women’s Leadership Advances, Multinational Mission Nears Departure
The representative of Bahrain, Council President for April, spoke in his national capacity to welcome the recent appointment of five women at the ministerial level, which “proves that the role of women is being promoted in the political process”. He also stressed the need to promote the Force’s operational readiness in supporting national authorities.
To that end, the International Organization of la Francophonie, its Permanent Observer said, is supporting predeployment training of Francophone personnel. However, the representative of the Dominican Republic pointed out that a significant gap remains between deployed personnel and the authorized ceiling, stressing that this is “the main operational challenge at this stage”.
Noting elections scheduled for August and December, the representative of Trinidad and Tobago — speaking for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) — underlined the need for the Gang Suppression Force and the Haitian National Police to work together to improve the security environment.
“The progress achieved by a contingent of 999 personnel demonstrates that stability in Haiti is possible,” emphasized the representative of Kenya, whose country led the Force’s predecessor. Urging stronger international support for Haiti, he said that the Force must be fully operational and sufficiently resourced. “This moment is particularly critical as the last fighting contingent of the [Multinational Security Support mission] departs from theatre at the end of April,” he added.