UN Security Council Approves New Military Force to Combat Gangs in Haiti
The United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution on Tuesday to transform a UN-backed security mission in Haiti into a larger, full-fledged force with military troops. This decision aims to address the escalating gang violence that has plagued the country. The resolution was passed on April 14, 2024 at UN headquarters in New York City.
Details of the New Security Force
The new force is authorized to have a maximum of 5,500 uniformed personnel, including police officers and soldiers. This is a significant increase from the current mission, which is primarily focused on law enforcement with a smaller number of personnel. The United States, along with Panama, co-sponsored the resolution to enlarge the mission.
Currently, only 1,000 police officers, mostly from Kenya, are deployed in Haiti under the Multinational Security Mission (MSS) to support the overwhelmed Haitian police in their fight against rampant gang violence. The MSS, approved in 2023, has yielded mixed results.
Reactions to the Resolution
US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz stated that the vote, supported by 12 council members, demonstrates that the "international community was sharing the burden." He emphasized that the resolution offers hope to Haiti, where terrorist gangs have expanded their territory and terrorized the population. "This resolution offers Haiti hope. It is a hope that has been rapidly slipping away as terrorist gangs expanded their territory, raped, pillaged, murdered and terrorised the Haitian population," he said.
“This marks a decisive turning point in my country’s fight against one of the most serious challenges in its already turbulent history,” said Haiti’s ambassador to the UN Ericq Pierre.
Haiti's Laurent Saint-Cyr, head of the Transitional Presidential Council, supported the proposal to evolve the MSS into a more resilient force for an initial period of one year. Panama’s ambassador to the UN, Eloy Alfaro de Alba, added, "The Council can help restore peace in a nation currently suffocated by merciless gangs." Kenya’s president William Ruto expressed confidence that with the right resources, Haiti’s security could be restored.
Concerns and Abstentions
China and Russia abstained from the vote, echoing concerns they previously voiced during the 2023 vote to create the MSS. China’s ambassador to the UN, Fu Cong, stated that "resorting to military force to combat violence with violence at this juncture is not only unlikely to succeed, but could further complicate Haiti's already intractable situation." China had expressed skepticism about the role of the MSS without political transition in Haiti.
The Situation in Haiti
Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, has long suffered from gang violence, political instability, and humanitarian crises. The situation has worsened since early 2024, leading to the resignation of the Prime Minister and the establishment of a Transitional Presidential Council.
The major force boost will be accompanied by the creation of a support office within the UN, suggested several months ago by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, to provide the required logistical and financial support.
