Canada Pledges $60M to Support Haiti Stability Amid UN Gang Suppression Plan

Canada has pledged C$60 million to support stability and security efforts in Haiti, with $40 million contingent on United Nations approval of a U.S.-backed plan to expand a police mission into a larger gang suppression force. This funding aims to back a more robust, UN-led security mission to counter armed gangs controlling much of Haiti, particularly in the capital, Port-au-Prince, which has experienced widespread violence, displacement, and hunger crises. The remaining $20 million is designated for a regional maritime security initiative to combat the flow of arms, drugs, and transnational organized crime in Haiti and the Caribbean. Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand emphasized the need for collective regional security and announced Canada’s commitment to the mission while clarifying that Canada will not send troops, focusing instead on financial support and advocacy for the expanded UN mission. The current mission, led by Kenyan police, is not an official UN peacekeeping operation and faces challenges in restoring order, prompting the proposal for a significantly larger international force with more resources. The Canadian government is encouraging other international partners to enhance their contributions as the country grapples with escalating gang violence and political instability.