OAS states call for renewal and full deployment of Haiti gang force
Key Points(5)
- All 32 active member states of the Organization of American States (OAS) have called on the United Nations Security Council to renew the mandate of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) in Haiti and provide the personnel, financing, equipment and logistical support needed for its full deployment.
- The joint statement, issued Sept.
- 25, reaffirmed the member states’ support for the Haitian people and Haiti’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
- It also stressed the need for Haitian-led solutions to the country’s security and political crisis.
- The statement follows an Aug.
All 32 active member states of the Organization of American States (OAS) have called on the United Nations Security Council to renew the mandate of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) in Haiti and provide the personnel, financing, equipment and logistical support needed for its full deployment.
The joint statement, issued Sept. 25, reaffirmed the member states’ support for the Haitian people and Haiti’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. It also stressed the need for Haitian-led solutions to the country’s security and political crisis.
The statement follows an Aug. 16-19 mission to Haiti led by OAS Secretary General Albert R. Ramdin, who subsequently identified security and elections as urgent and closely connected priorities.
Ramdin endorsed the joint statement, saying the GSF was playing an important role in helping Haitian authorities regain control of territory, restore access to critical infrastructure and improve public safety.
“We must honor the aspirations of the Haitian people by continuing to support the GSF, and the renewal of its mandate,” Ramdin said.
He also stressed that renewing the mandate would not be enough without the resources required to carry out the force’s mission.
“A mandate, by itself, does not produce results,” Ramdin said. “We must also ensure that the results Haitians need in terms of security are properly sourced. Results require personnel, financing, equipment, logistics and of course sustained political support.”
The joint statement calls for the GSF to be equipped to support the Haitian National Police and the Armed Forces of Haiti in accordance with their respective mandates.
Among the priorities identified are restoring state authority in areas controlled by gangs, securing access to the airport and port, reopening key transport routes and protecting the population.
The OAS states also called for a permanent Haitian National Police presence at strategic infrastructure sites and in areas recovered from gangs.
The Permanent Representative of Haiti to the OAS, Jean Josué Pierre, said the declaration sends a clear message about the need to strengthen Haiti’s security institutions while creating conditions for credible elections.
“The message of this declaration is clear: renew the mandate of the Gang Suppression Force, ensure its full deployment, strengthen Haiti’s security institutions, protect the population, and create the conditions for Haiti to advance toward credible elections and lasting stability,” Pierre said.
The member states also called for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration efforts, the restoration of humanitarian access and public services, and greater socioeconomic opportunities, particularly for young Haitians.
They stressed that operations by the GSF and Haitian security forces must comply with international law and applicable international human rights standards.
The statement also urges stronger action to prevent the trafficking of arms and ammunition into Haiti and disrupt the financial and supply networks supporting armed gangs. It calls for those who finance or provide material support to gangs to be held accountable.
On elections, the OAS states said preparations should continue as security conditions improve. They encouraged support for civil identification, voter registration and electoral logistics, as well as an OAS Electoral Observation Mission.
The statement also calls for continued coordination among Haiti, the OAS, the United Nations, CARICOM and other international partners.
The member states that signed the statement are Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States and Uruguay.
