WASHINGTON, CMC – The United States and Canada on Friday welcomed the “commitments and participation” made at the December 9 Haiti Force Generation Conference for the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), convened on behalf of the Standing Group of Partners.
In a joint statement, the two governments said the “shared determination of partner countries and organizations reflects a commitment to assist Haitians in addressing ongoing security challenges affecting the stability of the country and the region.”
They noted that Haiti’s transitional government has taken significant steps to re-establish a democratic process, including adopting an electoral decree that would allow Haitians to choose their leaders for the first time in nearly a decade.
“The conference deliberations sought to reinforce this trajectory by convening partners to coordinate, support, and strengthen security conditions on the ground,” the statement said.
With 18 entities pledging personnel, resources, and technical support, the US and Canada said the commitments demonstrate the breadth of international engagement behind the mission. They added that a burden-sharing approach would ensure the GSF has the tools needed to meet its mandate.
The two countries said they will continue working with international partners to ensure proper training, equipment, and compliance mechanisms are in place to support personnel from contributing countries. They also thanked those who previously contributed to the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission and reaffirmed their commitment to working alongside Haiti through the GSF “to advance stability, protect civilians, and support the Haitian people’s aspirations for a safer, more prosperous future.”
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Haiti’s President pro tempore and Coordinator of the Transitional Council, Laurent Saint-Cyr, welcomed a new contingent of Kenyan troops assigned to the GSF.
The fifth contingent, comprising 230 specialized police officers, arrived at Toussaint Louverture International Airport accompanied by Kenya’s Deputy National Security Advisor, Joseph Boinett, and Principal Deputy Inspector General James Kamau. Their arrival coincided with the departure of 100 Kenyan police officers who had completed their mission.
In early September, the United Nations Security Council authorized the GSF to replace the Kenyan-led MSS mission amid escalating gang violence, widespread human rights abuses, and a deepening humanitarian crisis.
The resolution, co-sponsored by Panama and the United States and supported by dozens of countries, was adopted with 12 votes in favor and three abstentions from China, Pakistan, and Russia.
Under an initial 12-month mandate, the UN said the 5,550-member force will work closely with the Haitian National Police and the armed forces to conduct intelligence-led operations against gangs, secure critical infrastructure, support humanitarian access, protect vulnerable populations, and assist with the reintegration of former fighters while strengthening national institutions.
The UN said the MSS mission, authorized in October 2023, was hampered by chronic underfunding, insufficient personnel, and limited operational capacity, making it challenging to counter gangs that now control large areas of Port-au-Prince. While the MSS helped restore access to some places and infrastructure, it struggled to match the scale of the crisis. Kenya, which led the MSS, has endorsed the new GSF mechanism.
According to the UN, Haiti is currently facing nearly 1.3 million internally displaced people, rising kidnappings, widespread sexual violence, and gangs controlling much of the capital.
Last month, in presenting an updated Roadmap for Stability and Peace in Haiti to the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS), Secretary General Albert Ramdin urged member states to “act with urgency.”
Ramdin said the third version of the roadmap, first introduced in August, enjoys broad international support but warned that “time is running out.” He called on member states and partners to move from commitments to concrete action to ease the suffering of Haitians and “lay the foundations for stability, democracy, and hope, under Haitian leadership and with effective international coordination.”
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