Security Council Approves Additional UN Troops In Haiti To Fight Gangs

Voting for the formation of new multinational forces to eradicate gangs in Haiti by the UN Security Council. (UN Photo/Loey Felipe)

JAKARTA - The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday approved a US proposal to more than double the number of new international security mission forces formed over 15 months, which lacks funding and staff, to combat armed gangs in Haiti.

A total of 13 council members voted to support the formation of the multinational Gang Suppression Force (GSF) troops on proposals submitted by the US and Panama. Meanwhile, Russia, China, and Pakistan chose abstain.

Armed gangs have seized control of nearly the entire Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, in a conflict that has forced about 1.3 million people to flee their homes and sparked high-level hunger.

The UN UN UN UNICEF revealed a surprising fact last month, where children are estimated to reach 50 percent of the Caribbean nation's gang members.

"The dramatic expansion of this gang violence has endangered the existence of the State of Haiti," US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz told the council.

#BREAKINGSecurity Council ADOPTS resolution authorizing the transition of the multinational security support mission in #Haiti into a “Gang Suppression Force” for an initial period of 12 months; also calls for establishing a UN Support Office.

In Favor: 12Against: 0Abstain: 3 pic.twitter.com/hxZxOrtPNl

— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) September 30, 2025

#BREAKINGSecurity Council ADOPTS resolution authorization the transition of the multinational security support mission in #Haiti into a Gang Suppression Force for an initial period of 12 months; also calls for plantation a UN Support Office.

In Favor: 12Against: 0Abstain: 3 pic.twitter.com/hxZxOutPNl

The new force will continue to rely on voluntary contributions in the form of personnel and funding, but its leadership structure will be different. This force will be led by a group of representatives from countries that have donated personnel, plus the US and Canada. This force will also be supported by the new United Nations field offices.

It remains unclear how this new force will address the challenges faced by the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS).

Quoted from UN News, this new force will replace MSS which was formed in October 2023. GSF itself has a 12-month mandate.

Kenyan President William Ruto said at an event at the United Nations last week that the mission had been experiencing difficulties in terms of staffing and logistics. Despite praising Washington for its steps, he said the vehicles provided "are used vehicles, and therefore often damaged." However, he said Kenya was ready to participate in this new mission.

"Today's vote is an acknowledgment that, due to the lack of real burden sharing, the international community has failed to carry out missions that are in line with its objectives. This mission has no scaling, coverage, and resources needed to combat these gangs and restore security in Haiti," explains Waltz.

Russia and China are equally critical of the United States, accusing it of failing to stop the flow of illegal weapons to Haiti from the US and not providing sufficient funds for the initial MSS mission. They also said Uncle Sam's country had rushed to endorse ambiguous resolutions on several important issues, including engagement rules.

"Let's be honest, if the contributor fails to provide the promised funds for the MSS, what guarantees that things will be different from this new mission?" asked Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia, calling the funds needed for Haiti very small compared to the billions of dollars spent by countries to send weapons to Ukraine.

He also voiced concerns raised by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday about how the United States could interpret the GSF mandate.

The resolution adopted on Tuesday allowed countries participating in the GSF to take all necessary steps to carry out its mandate, a code for the use of armed forces.

The US mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the statement.

Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Fu Cong said Beijing did not veto the resolution on Tuesday "given Haiti's poor security situation and concerns as well as calls from the international community."

"This is the greatest good faith that China can show. At the same time, we must emphasize that our questions and concerns remain. We are very concerned about GSF's operations and prospects," he added.

A top US official in Haiti last week said continued US procurement for UN-backed security forces in Haiti would not be guaranteed if the Security Council rejected Washington's proposal to restructure and expand the mission.