The resolution, jointly by Panama and the United States, and supported by dozens of countries in the region and beyond, was adopted by a vote of 12 in favor, with three abstentions from China, Pakistan and Russia.
Under an initial mandate of 12 months, the GSF will work in close coordination with the Haitian National Police (HNP) and the Haitian armed forces to perform intelligence operations to neutralize gangs, provide security for critical infrastructure and support humanitarian access.
The strength of 5,550 people will also protect vulnerable groups, will support the reintegration of former combatants and help strengthen Haitian institutions.
The multinational security support mission (MSS), authorized by the Security Council in October 2023, faced chronic insufficient funds, insufficient personnel and limited operational capacity, which makes it difficult to contain gangs that now control large parts of the capital, Prince Port-AU.
While the MSS allowed HNP to recover access to some areas and infrastructure, it fought to match the scale of the crisis. Kenya, who led the MSS, also supported the new mechanism.
Haiti faces almost 1.3 million people displaced internally, increasing kidnappings, generalized sexual violence and gangs that control large areas of the capital.
Haiti is not alone
Presenting the text on the Council, Ambassador Eloy Alfaro de Alba de Panama emphasized the urgency of international support.
“Since last year, this Council has asked the Secretary General to present recommendations to address the multidimensional crisis in Haiti … Haiti faces an unprecedented multidimensional crisis that requires our decisive attention,” he said.
He urged all members of the Security Council to support the initiative, stating that doing so “would send a clear message to Haiti, is not alone.”
UN Support Office in Haiti
The resolution also assigns the Secretary General to establish a UN Support Office in Haiti (UNHO) to provide logistical and operational support to the Armed Forces GSF, HNP and Haiti, including rations, medical care, transport, strategic communications and troops rotation.
UNHOH will also support the organization of the Safe Maintenance Project of American States and guarantee compliance with international human rights standards.
A force against gangs
The United States, a sponsor of the resolution, highlighted the scale of the new mission.
Ambassador Mike Waltz said the MSS mission lacked the scale, scope and resources necessary to bring the fight to gangs and restore a safety baseline in Haiti.
“Today’s vote establishes that right. With this vote to transform the MSS mission to the new gang suppression force, a mission five times the size of its predecessor and with a strengthened mandate to persecute gangs,” he said.
“The international community is sharing the load and is up to its promise to help Haiti change the course. It offers Haiti the opportunity to assume responsibility for their own security.”
Haitian government ultimately
The Council emphasized that the Government of Haiti retains the “main responsibility” for national security and governance reform, including corruption supply, illegal weapons flows and recruitment of children by gangs.
The GSF is intended to support the Haitian authorities while creating conditions for the country to gradually assume the total security responsibility.
A decisive inflection point
The decision to transform the MSS mission into the GSF marked “a decisive turning point” into one of the most serious challenges in Haiti’s already turbulent history, said the country’s ambassador after the vote.
While the multinational security support mission has been “valuable support and a strong sign of international solidarity,” Ambassador Pierre Ericq Pierre emphasized: “But reality on the ground reminded us that the scale and sophistication of the threat increases the mandate initially granted to this mission.”
As the Security Council granted a stronger, more offensive and more operational mandate, “it is giving the international community the media to respond to the seriousness of the situation in Haiti,” he added.