Haiti’s Transitional Government Endorses U.S. Plan for Gang Suppression Force

Editorial credit: Daniel-Alvarez / Shutterstock.com

Port‑au‑Prince, Haiti: Amid escalating gang violence and an ongoing security crisis, Haiti’s transitional government has voiced strong support for the United States–backed proposal to transform the existing Kenya‑led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) into a more robust, 5,500‑member Gang Suppression Force (GSF).

At a United Nations Security Council videoconference held on Tuesday, September 9, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils‑Aimé affirmed that evolving the mission into a UN‑strategic force capable of conducting intensive, targeted counter‑gang operations offers the most viable path to address the current shortcomings of the MSS.

The transition plan, first unveiled by the U.S. and Panama on August 28, 2025, calls for a GSF consisting of 5,500 uniformed personnel plus 50 civilians, endowed with authority to detain gang suspects, secure critical infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, airports, and support Haitian authorities in curbing arms trafficking. The initial mandate would span 12 months.

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A Stand for Stability and Future Elections

Prime Minister Fils‑Aimé hailed the proposed shift as a ‘decisive step toward supporting state authority, protecting communities, and contributing to national and regional stability.’ He underscored that this new framework would not only boost security but also enable Haiti to organize democratic elections “as soon as possible,” thereby reinforcing governance and institutional legitimacy.

Humanitarian Crisis Deepens Urgency

The urgency of a more forceful international intervention cannot be overstated. Haiti continues to grapple with alarming levels of gang dominance—gangs now control approximately 85% to 90% of Port‑au‑Prince, and violence has spread into rural areas. Over 1.3 million people have been displaced, with violence claiming thousands of lives in 2025 alone.

UN Special Representative María Isabel Salvador recently warned that Haiti may tip into ‘total chaos’ without rapid international action, pointing to strengthened support as critical to avoiding collapse. Meanwhile, UNICEF has reported a dramatic 700% rise in child recruitment by gangs—a stark indication of how deeply organized crime has infiltrated Haitian society.

Next Steps: Awaiting UN Security Council Vote

A Security Council vote on the draft resolution is expected by late September, as the MSS mandate is set to expire on October 2.

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