Haitian Government Calls for Renewal of International Anti-Gang Task Force

Haiti’s foreign minister has urged the U.N. Security Council to renew the mandate of an international security force intended to confront armed groups controlling parts of the country. The mandate of the Gang Suppression Force is due to expire on Sept. 30.

At a meeting of the Organisation of American States focused on Haiti’s continuing gang violence, Foreign Minister Raina Forbin again called for the force to be fully deployed with international backing. “We need technical, financial, logistical and safety support that is up to the challenge,” Forbin said. “We must now move from solidarity to action.”

The call came as Haiti faces a heavy toll from violence. An estimated 1,408 people were killed and 656 injured between April and June, with gangs blamed for much of the bloodshed. Armed groups have expanded their control over large areas of Port-au-Prince and displaced more than one million people.

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We need technical, financial, logistical and safety support that is up to the challenge. We must now move from solidarity to action.

Haiti is also moving toward general elections scheduled for Dec. 13, the first in a decade. Critics fear the violence could disrupt voting and weaken confidence in the result, while officials have questioned whether the elections can take place under current conditions. The country’s instability intensified after former President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in 2021. Poverty and government corruption remain among the deeper problems authorities have struggled to address.

OAS Secretary-General Albert Ramdin said the organization would send an Electoral Observation Mission to support a credible vote. He called for more assistance to Haiti’s provisional electoral council and said about one million identity cards must be produced and distributed before voting can occur. “Haiti is at a critical juncture,” Ramdin said. “Our responsibility is clear: to strengthen security efforts, advance electoral preparations, fulfill existing commitments and ensure that international cooperation translates into tangible improvements in the daily lives of the Haitian people.” International assistance has also faced criticism from Haitians skeptical of outside interference.

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Haiti is at a critical juncture. Our responsibility is clear: to strengthen security efforts, advance electoral preparations, fulfill existing commitments and ensure that international cooperation translates into tangible improvements in the daily lives of the Haitian people.