Gang Suppression Force

Haiti's government collapsed after the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, after which the prime minister, Ariel Henry, assumed power without an election. Though Henry's official term ended in early 2022, he postponed elections and governed without a constitutional mandate. The political impasse has created conditions for escalating gang warfare and a wave of violent crime. Since 2021, the Haitian National Police (HNP) has suffered 100 fatalities and declined by over 7,000 personnel; by the end of 2023, only around 9,000 officers remained on duty for country of over 11 million—for comparison, 36,000 officers serve the 8 million residents of New York City alone. These challenges have been exacerbated by a cholera outbreak, deadly earthquakes, and economic strife, contributing to a broader humanitarian crisis. According to a UN report, there were almost 2,800 murders recorded between October 2022 and June 2023. which concluded in 2019. Both missions were marred by controversies, including allegations of U.N. troops sexually exploiting poor women and being responsible for the cholera outbreak in 2010. UNSC Resolution 2699 One year after the Haitian government's formal request to the U.N. for international assistance, the United States and Ecuador drafted United Nations Security Council Resolution 2699. Adopted on 2 October 2023, the resolution mandates the MSS with helping the HNP counter gangs, restore security, and create conditions for free and fair elections. Thirteen members voted in favour, with Russia and China abstaining. the United States announced it would contribute another $100 million in support of the mission, raising its total pledge to $300 million, while Benin pledged to provide 2,000 soldiers. , Kenya, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Chad, and Guinea have formally agreed to provide personnel. Preparations The United States has pledged $200 million to the mission and an additional $100 million in humanitarian aid. Canada announced $123 million to support Haiti, including $80.5 million for the mission. During March 2024, the U.N. indicated that $78 million had been formally pledged, of which only $10.8 million was deposited, by Canada and France. As of October 2024, operation has received only $85 million, while its annual budget is estimated at $600 million. On 30 March 2024, 70 Canadian soldiers from the 1st Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment were deployed to Jamaica to provide training and support to Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nations heading to Haiti under MSS command. On 20 May 2024, Toussaint Louverture International Airport in the capital of Haiti was reopened after being closed for three months. The US military was flying in supplies and civilian contractors in the preceding weeks to pave a way for the intervention. On 23 May 2024, in recognition of its willingness to lead the mission, US President Joe Biden announced that Kenya will be granted a Major non-NATO ally status. On 25 February 2025, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the MSS will not transition to a UN peacekeeping force and instead, will recommend the creation of a support mission to back the MSS' operations. ==Deployment==

On 25 June 2024, Kenya's first contingent of 400 elite police officers landed in Port-au-Prince's international airport after months of delay. A second contingent consisting of 200 officers arrived on 16 July. On 12 September 2024, two dozen soldiers and police officers from Jamaica arrived in Haiti to join a U.N.-backed mission led by Kenya to combat the gangs. Three months into the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, little progress has been made, with no tangible improvement in Haiti's security situation. As of late October 2024, the mission remains severely understaffed, with Kenya deploying only 400 troops, alongside 20 officers from Jamaica and Belize. Kenyan President William Ruto has pledged that the full deployment of Kenya Police personnel will be completed "by January" 2025, but he has criticized the mission's "lack of equipment, logistics, and funds." Additionally, observers have expressed concerns over the mission's unclear operational framework and rules of engagement. Then on 3 January 2025, 75 troops of the Guatemalan Army Military police and 8 airmen of the Salvadoran Air Force landed in Port-au-Prince. 75 additional troops of the Guatemalan Army military police unit landed the next day, completing Guatemala's deployment of pledged troops. The third deployment of Kenyan police officers, 217 officers this time, occurred on 18 January 2025. On the same day that 70 Salvadorans were deployed to the theatre, the U.N. announced that U.S. froze its funding of the mission. In 2026, Chad will deploy 750 members of the security forces to take part in the UN-backed security mission in Haiti. Transition to GSF In October 2025, United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2793 co-penned by the United States and Panama, to transform the MSS it into the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) initially planned to contain 5,500 personnel. The GSF will have the capability to conduct intelligence based operations either independently or in coordination with the Armed Forces of Haiti and Haitian National Police. On 1 April 2026, the first GSF troops from Chad arrived in Haiti, consisting of 400 troops from the Chadian National Army. Two Chadian battalions, for 1,500 troops total, are expected to be deployed. They are stationed at the Vertières military base of the Haitian Armed Forces. ==Response==

Haiti In a 2023 survey, 70% of Haitians said they favor the deployment of an international armed force to fight the gangs, as authorized by the United Nations. The majority of respondents, 57%, said they do not think a coalition of civil society organizations that have come together under the name Montana Accord — an agreement for governing Haiti named after the Petionville hotel where it was signed — can solve the security crisis either. A total of 1,597 Haitians were surveyed across Haiti's 10 regional departments and the margin of error is below 3%. The poll was commissioned by the Haiti Health Network, a group of medical organizations in the country. Nou Pap Konplis, a nongovernmental organization, expressed support for the resolution but urged the government to draft a "roadmap" that would avoid the problems of past interventions. Likewise, Ricardo Fleuridor, a leading activist and member of the Petrochallengers grassroots movement, called on U.N. leaders to collaborate with competent Haitians skilled in international politics and diplomacy when establishing a roadmap for the multinational mission. Lastly, Crisis Group expert Diego Da Rin observes that Haitians hope the force will enhance security and restore normalcy, but concerns about gang resistance mean its success hinges on the effectiveness of its initial operations. Echoing the concerns of Haitian civil society, human rights experts have advocated additional training and mechanisms to prevent and punish human rights violations, which have historically plagued prior peacekeeping and security missions. On 17 April 2024, Haitian business leaders released a letter addressed to Kenyan President William Ruto stating that they were "extremely concerned" over the MSS' delay. With the lack of action on the ground and lack of participation in operation, a growing number of Haitians have shown their mistrust in the objectives of the mission and are calling for investments in the Haitian police and Armed Forces of Haiti to resolve the security issues. United States As the United Nations sanctions an independent Kenya-led multinational mission to the tumultuous nation of Haiti, Sir Ronald Sanders, Antigua and Barbuda's chief diplomat to the Organisation of American States (OAS), has probed the role of the US in the endeavor. While the US State Department has committed to providing $100 million in foreign assistance and the Department of Defense is willing to offer up to $100 million in supporting measures, Sir Ronald Sanders underscores a deeper historical connection. As discussions about the Haitian mission proceed, Sanders calls for a more active role by the US, challenging the emphasis on monetary contributions over direct involvement. Kenya Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu asserts that Kenya's leadership in the UN-backed mission in Haiti will bolster its global reputation as a dependable partner. Highlighting Kenya's peacekeeping history, she believes that the mission provides advanced training for Kenyan police and brings financial benefits, with countries like the US committing significant funds. Rather than combat, Kenyan officers will secure key infrastructures in Haiti. Nyamu emphasizes Kenya's commitment to global collaboration and Haiti's stabilization. Kenya's paramilitary General Service Unit may be deployed and some officers are learning French to communicate on the ground. ==Personnel==

As of June 2025, 991 personnel were currently deployed in Haiti, which include mostly Kenyans but also 150 Guatemalans, 78 Salvadorans, 23 Jamaicans, six Bahamians and two Belizeans. ==Analysis==

In June 2025, a year after the deployment of MSS forces President of Kenya William Ruto in a statement cleared that the MSS forces has made little progress in fighting the gangs. Only less than half of the initially proposed 2,500 personnel were deployed and only 30% of the proposed equipment were delivered and the number of displaced people from the time of deployment rose from 520,000 to 1.1 Million after one year. According to a statement by International Crisis Group, a Belgium-based think tank, the MSS have failed to have a clear success except some isolated advances. They couldn't retake any major gang territory in some cases they managed to push gangs away few streets but couldn't establish control over them and were forced to retreat. They also couldn't kill or capture any gang leader even though they have killed some low level members. According to Chatham House, the MSS found itself outgunned and its members spent much of their time in their barracks. == Casualties ==

On 24 February 2025, the Mission suffered its first casualty when a Kenyan Police officer, Samuel Tompei Kaetuai, was killed in a gunfight with gangs while assisting Haitian Police. On 25 March 2025, gangs ambushed a Kenyan contingent while on a recovery mission which killed one Kenyan Police officer and torched three armored vehicles. Another Kenyan police officer was also reported to be missing after the incident and gangs claimed to have killed and was later confirmed by the Security forces. ==See also==