Towards a new, more robust international force to combat armed gangs in Haiti
York – September 23, 2025 Faced with a security crisis that is worsening day by day, the international community plans to strengthen its response in Haiti.
By La Rédaction · Port-au-Prince
· 3 min read · Updated 24 April 2026
Translated from French — AI-assisted and reviewed by the editorial team. The French version is authoritative. Read the original · About our translation policy
New York – September 23, 2025 –
Faced with a security crisis that is worsening day by day, the international community plans to strengthen its response in Haiti. Meeting in New York, the UN Security Council is studying the creation of a Gang Repression Force (FRG) of 5,500 members, a more robust mission mandated under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, which authorizes the use of military force to restore peace. This initiative, led by the United States and Panama, aims to replace or strengthen the current Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission, deployed for 15 months under Kenyan leadership but whose mandate expires on October 2. A current mission in difficulty Kenyan President William Ruto, whose country leads the MSS, presented a mixed assessment. According to him, the mission has secured Port-au-Prince International Airport, protected the presidential palace, and reopened several strategic road axes. However, gangs still control nearly 90% of the capital and continue to sow terror in other regions of the country. Ruto acknowledged that the MSS “operates at only 40% of its capacity,” due to a lack of material, logistical, and financial resources. Of the 2,500 police officers initially planned, fewer than 1,000 are actually deployed, with defective vehicles and erratic funding. “We cannot depend on charity. Funding must be predictable,” insisted the Kenyan president, calling for a mission with clear objectives and guaranteed resources. Washington advocates for a force five times more powerful For the United States, the time has come to turn a corner. “Haiti is at a crossroads,” warned Christopher Landau, U.S. Under Secretary of State. Washington proposes transforming the MSS into a Gang Repression Force (FRG), comprising 5,500 members and mandated by the UN, capable of “targeting gangs, restoring security, and securing essential infrastructure.” This force would benefit from a United Nations Logistics Support Office in Haiti, ensuring more stable resources. Urgent appeal from Haitian authorities On the Haitian side, the president of the Transitional Presidential Council, Laurent Saint-Cyr, issued a solemn appeal to avoid a security vacuum after October 2. “Haiti cannot and will not be able to face this crisis, fueled by transnational criminal networks, alone,” he warned, emphasizing that the interruption of international support would be “fatal” to the country. A humanitarian and security emergency The figures bear witness to an ongoing disaster. Since January, 1.3 million Haitians have been displaced, half of whom are children. More than 4,000 homicides have been recorded by the UN, while hunger is rapidly increasing, placing Haiti among the five countries most at risk of famine in the world. In certain gang-controlled areas, the state is absent, replaced by forms of parallel governance. Annise, a resident of Carrefour, states that it is a disaster and insists on blaming the government for its inaction in the face of surging insecurity. Faced with the fact that she has to raise two young boys amidst these bandits, she persists in saying: “Kounya pitit mwen an ka panse li nòmal pou yon moun ap bat fanm, kenbe zam, bwè kleren chak jou… Paske se sa yo selman gang yo fè, se pi move egzanpl timoun yo te ka jwenn.” Sexual violence, summary executions, and even allegations of organ trafficking heighten the urgency of international intervention. The Security Council faces a countdown The UN representative for the Americas, Miroslav Jenča, warned: “Without increased action, the total collapse of the state’s presence in the capital could become a reality.” Several states, including France and CARICOM members, support the idea of a more robust UN mandate, including logistical support and strengthened sanctions against gang financiers. A decisive choice for Haiti and the region As the MSS mandate expires in a few days, the question is no longer just one of support, but of an international commitment capable of breaking the gangs' grip and restoring the authority of the Haitian state. For diplomats present in New York, time is running out: each day of delay increases the risk of irreversible collapse.
Faced with a security crisis that is worsening day by day, the international community plans to strengthen its response in Haiti. Meeting in New York, the UN Security Council is studying the creation of a Gang Repression Force (FRG) of 5,500 members, a more robust mission mandated under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, which authorizes the use of military force to restore peace. This initiative, led by the United States and Panama, aims to replace or strengthen the current Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission, deployed for 15 months under Kenyan leadership but whose mandate expires on October 2. A current mission in difficulty Kenyan President William Ruto, whose country leads the MSS, presented a mixed assessment. According to him, the mission has secured Port-au-Prince International Airport, protected the presidential palace, and reopened several strategic road axes. However, gangs still control nearly 90% of the capital and continue to sow terror in other regions of the country. Ruto acknowledged that the MSS “operates at only 40% of its capacity,” due to a lack of material, logistical, and financial resources. Of the 2,500 police officers initially planned, fewer than 1,000 are actually deployed, with defective vehicles and erratic funding. “We cannot depend on charity. Funding must be predictable,” insisted the Kenyan president, calling for a mission with clear objectives and guaranteed resources. Washington advocates for a force five times more powerful For the United States, the time has come to turn a corner. “Haiti is at a crossroads,” warned Christopher Landau, U.S. Under Secretary of State. Washington proposes transforming the MSS into a Gang Repression Force (FRG), comprising 5,500 members and mandated by the UN, capable of “targeting gangs, restoring security, and securing essential infrastructure.” This force would benefit from a United Nations Logistics Support Office in Haiti, ensuring more stable resources. Urgent appeal from Haitian authorities On the Haitian side, the president of the Transitional Presidential Council, Laurent Saint-Cyr, issued a solemn appeal to avoid a security vacuum after October 2. “Haiti cannot and will not be able to face this crisis, fueled by transnational criminal networks, alone,” he warned, emphasizing that the interruption of international support would be “fatal” to the country. A humanitarian and security emergency The figures bear witness to an ongoing disaster. Since January, 1.3 million Haitians have been displaced, half of whom are children. More than 4,000 homicides have been recorded by the UN, while hunger is rapidly increasing, placing Haiti among the five countries most at risk of famine in the world. In certain gang-controlled areas, the state is absent, replaced by forms of parallel governance. Annise, a resident of Carrefour, states that it is a disaster and insists on blaming the government for its inaction in the face of surging insecurity. Faced with the fact that she has to raise two young boys amidst these bandits, she persists in saying: “Kounya pitit mwen an ka panse li nòmal pou yon moun ap bat fanm, kenbe zam, bwè kleren chak jou… Paske se sa yo selman gang yo fè, se pi move egzanpl timoun yo te ka jwenn.” Sexual violence, summary executions, and even allegations of organ trafficking heighten the urgency of international intervention. The Security Council faces a countdown The UN representative for the Americas, Miroslav Jenča, warned: “Without increased action, the total collapse of the state’s presence in the capital could become a reality.” Several states, including France and CARICOM members, support the idea of a more robust UN mandate, including logistical support and strengthened sanctions against gang financiers. A decisive choice for Haiti and the region As the MSS mandate expires in a few days, the question is no longer just one of support, but of an international commitment capable of breaking the gangs' grip and restoring the authority of the Haitian state. For diplomats present in New York, time is running out: each day of delay increases the risk of irreversible collapse.
