The United States and Panama are urging the United Nations Security Council to authorise a 5,550-member Gang Suppression Force with the power to detain gang members in Haiti, as violence continues to spiral out of control.
According to a draft resolution obtained by the Associated Press on Wednesday, the plan would transform the Kenya-led multinational force currently deployed in Haiti into a much larger mission for an initial 12-month period. The new force would include 5,500 uniformed personnel and 50 civilians, funded through voluntary contributions, though it remains unclear which countries would provide troops or police.
Kenyan officers first deployed to Haiti in June 2024, with the mission originally envisioned as a 2,500-strong force. But plagued by limited funding, its strength has fallen below 1,000. Meanwhile, gangs have tightened their grip since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, now controlling 90 per cent of the capital Port-au-Prince and extending their reach into rural areas through looting, kidnapping, sexual violence, and other crimes. Haiti has not had a president since Moïse’s killing.
The draft resolution expresses appreciation to Kenya for leading the mission but backs UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ February finding that the current deployment is unable to match the gangs’ rapid expansion. Acting US Ambassador Dorothy Shea had already signalled on August 28 that Washington would push for a new authorisation.
If approved, the Gang Suppression Force would be empowered to arrest and detain Haitians, secure critical infrastructure such as ports, airports, schools and hospitals, and work alongside Haitian police and armed forces. It would also support efforts to stem the flow of illegal arms into the country.
The Security Council is expected to vote on the US–Panama draft resolution later this month, ahead of the October 2 expiry of the Kenya-led mission’s mandate. The resolution would further allow participants to conduct “independent, intelligence-led targeted counter-gang operations to neutralise, isolate and deter gangs that continue to threaten the civilian population, abuse human rights and undermine Haitian institutions.”
