UN authorizes a much larger force to fight gangs in Haiti with new power
to arrest gang members
[October 01, 2025]
By EDITH M. LEDERER
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council voted Tuesday to
authorize a much larger, 5,550-member international force with expanded
powers to help stop escalating gang violence in Haiti.
The resolution, co-sponsored by the United States and Panama, will
transform the current Kenya-led multinational force into a “Gang
Suppression Force” with the power to arrest suspected gang members,
which the current force does not have.
The vote was 12-0 with Russia, China and Pakistan abstaining.
U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz said the resolution’s adoption “offers Haiti
hope.”
“It is a hope that has been rapidly slipping away as terrorist gangs
expanded their territory, raped, pillaged, murdered and terrorized the
Haitian population … (and) jeopardized the very existence of the Haitian
state,” he said.
Gangs have grown in power since the assassination of President Jovenel
Moïse in 2021. They now control 90% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and
have expanded their activities, including looting, kidnapping, sexual
assaults and rape, into the countryside. Haiti has not had a president
since the assassination.
The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince said the message from the Security
Council is clear: “The era of impunity for those who seek to destabilize
Haiti is over.”
Panama’s U.N. Ambassador Eloy Alfaro de Alba said the co-sponsors are
convinced that “through this force, it will be possible to re-establish
the security that is needed for political reconstruction and the holding
of elections,” as well as reviving the economy and creating
opportunities for the Haitian people.
But China’s U.N. Ambassador Fu Cong was highly critical of the
resolution, which he said “risks exacerbating Haiti’s already complex
and dire situation.”
He especially criticized the United States, which he said not only
failed to provide promised funding to the Kenya-led force but also owes
$800 million to the U.N. peacekeeping budget while demanding that other
countries share the financial burden for the new Gang Suppression Force.
[to top of second column]
|
Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said Moscow abstained
because the Security Council “is once again being thrust into a
dangerous and poorly thought out venture.” Previous U.N. resolutions
have failed “to produce any sustainable results, and we have every
reason to believe this new mission, under yet another grand title,
will meet the same fate,” he said.
The first Kenyans arrived in Haiti in June 2024, and the force was
supposed to have 2,500 troops, but it has been plagued by a lack of
funding, and its current strength is below 1,000.
The seven-page resolution expresses appreciation to Kenya for
leading the multinational force but reaffirms Secretary-General
Antonio Guterres’ finding in February that it hasn’t been able to
keep pace with the dramatic expansion of the gangs and needs to be
scaled up. The mandate for the current force expires on Thursday.
The resolution was adopted under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter,
which means it can be enforced militarily. It authorizes U.N. member
nations to transition to a Gang Suppression Force, in cooperation
with Haiti’s government, for an initial period of 12 months.
The new force is authorized to conduct independently or with the
Haitian police “intelligence-led targeted, counter-gang operations
to neutralize, isolate, and deter gangs that continue to threaten
the civilian population, abuse human rights and undermine Haitian
institutions.” It is also authorized to provide security for
critical infrastructure, including the airport and ports, schools
and hospitals, along with the Haitian police and armed forces, and
to support Haitian efforts “to combat illicit trafficking and
diversion of arms and related material.”
The resolution states that the force would consist of 5,500
uniformed personnel and 50 civilians who would be paid from
voluntary contributions. Waltz, the U.S. envoy, urged countries to
contribute personnel and money. The resolution asks Guterres to
establish a U.N. office to provide logistical and operational
support to the new force.
Laurent Saint-Cyr, leader of Haiti’s transitional presidential
council, cheered the vote on Tuesday.
“This vote marks a decisive turning point in the fight against armed
criminal groups that are causing grief for our families, paralyzing
our economy and threatening the future of our nation,” he said.
—-
Danica Coto contributed to this report from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved |
