US, Kenya Seek UN Support for Expanded 5,500-Person Haiti Gang Suppression Force

The United States is leading an international effort at the United Nations to expand and strengthen the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti into a larger Gang Suppression Force (GSF) of approximately 5,500 troops. The current MSS mission, operating with only about half of its intended personnel and limited resources, has struggled to contain powerful gangs controlling much of Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, and its mandate is set to expire on October 2. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, along with Kenyan President William Ruto and Haitian transitional leader Laurent Saint-Cyr, emphasized the urgent need for a robust, well-supported force with a new UN mandate to proactively target gangs, secure critical infrastructure, and restore security. The proposed GSF would be backed by a new UN Support Office for Haiti (UNSOH) to provide the necessary logistical and financial support. Despite broad support including from all 32 members of the Organization of American States and Haiti itself, the resolution faces challenges in the UN Security Council that could delay or block its adoption. The U.S. and international partners call for swift action to prevent the worsening of the security crisis and enable Haiti’s path toward stability and governance.