The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has approved a new multinational Gang Suppression Force (GSF) to replace the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM) in Haiti.
UNSC adopted the resolution on Tuesday, September 30, after 12 countries voted in favor of it, while 3 abstained.
Speaking after the passage of the resolution, US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said the MSSM lacked the scale and resources needed to combat gangs and restore security in Haiti.
“Today’s vote sets 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 go after the gangs,” Waltz noted.
He added, “The international community is sharing the burden and living up to its promise to help Haiti turn the tide. It offers Haiti the chance to assume responsibility for its own security.”
Read More
The GSF will comprise 5,550 uniformed personnel, including police officers and soldiers, unlike the current mission.
The force, which has been granted a 12-month mandate, will work closely with the Haitian National Police (HNP) and the Haitian Armed Forces to conduct intelligence-led operations to neutralize gangs, provide security for critical infrastructure, and support humanitarian access.
GSF is expected to draw participation from the US, Canada, El Salvador, Guatemala, the Bahamas, and Jamaica.
The mandate of the Kenya-led peace mission to Haiti is set to expire on Thursday, October 2, 2025.
Kenya has so far deployed a contingent of 735 police officers to restore peace in the Caribbean nation.
MSSM also had participation from Guatemala, which deployed 150 officers, El Salvador with 78, Jamaica with 23, the Bahamas with 3, and Canada with 1.
On September 25, President William Ruto said Kenya will not pull out its police officers from Haiti without a clear plan for a new mission to take over.
“Our best position is that we have completed our mission; we were asked to step in, but one thing Kenya will not do is to walk away from Haiti without clarity on a transition.
“We will be there to make sure that the next mission is properly formed; it’s not yet clear when it will be formed, or how it will be resourced. There are so many things that are still hanging,” said Ruto.
The Head of State said the MSSM forces have managed to stabilize Haiti since their deployment in June 2024.
“When we went to Haiti, both the air and sea ports had been overrun by gangs. Today, they are operational. Schools and hospitals had also been overrun; today, they are operating. The palace was under siege from gangs; today, that is where the Presidential Council and Prime Minister sit," Ruto stated.
