On September 30, 2025, the United Nations (UN) Security Council adopted a resolution authorizing the creation of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) in Haiti. This is the result of the UN Security Council’s decision to expand the current international mission in coordination with Haitian authorities. The UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) emphasizes the spiraling gang violence and institutional collapse in the country.
Escalating gang violence, widespread rights abuses, and a humanitarian emergency in Haiti
Although Haiti’s political, security, and humanitarian crisis began around 2018-2019, it intensified after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. Following this, political elections were suspended and institutions weakened, and Haitian gangs began to grow and expand their control. Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) was originally deployed in June 2024. Coupled with displacement, food insecurity, and mass human rights abuses, Haiti’s situation has caught the international eye.
Some estimated statistics on the dire situation affecting millions of Haitians:
- An estimated 1.3 million people have been internally displaced due to the increase of gang violence and control.
- Approximately 5.7 million Haitians currently are facing severe food insecurity, suspected to be due to the collapse of supply chains in the country.
- Between January 2025 and June 2025 (a mere period of 6 months), it is estimated that 3,100 people died due to incidents of gang-related violence.
- Over the same 6-month period, 2,300 violations against children were reported.
The UN Security Council has authorized the new Gang Suppression Force (GSF)
A long time coming, but the creation of the new Gang Suppression Force (GSF) has been approved. Preceding the GSF, the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) was deployed in June 2024. The MSS was designed to support Haitian authorities in maintaining limited security. Despite being deployed to the known gang hotspot of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, the MSS was unable to keep pace with the subsequent expansion of gang influence.
The MSS has been criticized for being understaffed and underfunded, deploying fewer than 1,000 personnel despite a ceiling of 2,500. The Kenya-led MSS mission has officially been considered unsuccessful, and with this comes the UN Security Council’s approval of the GSF on September 30, 2025.
Neutralize, isolate, and deter gangs
The new force will initially have a short time of 12 months. The core mandate for the Gang Suppression Force is to “neutralize, isolate, and deter gangs.” The GSF holds a ‘stronger’ mandate than the MSS, including the security of infrastructure and stabilization of Haiti’s institutions. The GSF has approximately 5,500 personnel, which almost doubles the MSS deployment ceiling.
Success hinged on stable funding, safeguards, accountability measures, and careful foreign intervention
The success of the GSF mission relies on the promise of increased support from international institutions, such as the United Nations. A dedicated UN Support Office has been allocated in Haiti, specifically for coordination, logistics, and operations, and it has been said that there will be stronger collaboration with Haiti’s police authorities and any ongoing gang-related operations.
Despite all the plans and talk, one thing remains clear: the GSF will still rely on voluntary member contributions, and this mission requires a large amount of financial backing, along with high-tech and reliable equipment to be successful. This is not a trend only seen in active conflicts, but nations like Japan and India are also investing billions into technology and defense.
The stability of Haiti depends on reliable funding and resources, international will, and sustained commitment from foreign parties, such as the support that the France-Ukraine coalition is receiving, as well as Haitian authorities. The GSF mission has been designed as a corrective mission to address the shortcomings of the MSS, rather than a mission that ignores past mistakes and failures. The GSF’s effectiveness will define Haiti’s path toward lasting peace.