Haiti Seeks Urgent Help: Will UN Renew Anti-Gang Force Before Elections?
Haiti’s top diplomat has called for urgent help from the United Nations. Foreign Minister Raina Forbin has asked the UN Security Council to renew an international security force. This force is known as the Gang Suppression Force (GSF).
Ms. Forbin said the GSF is needed to make Haiti safe. She hopes it can help ensure fair elections in December. The GSF’s current approval will end on September 30. The UN Security Council must act to continue its mission.
Ms. Forbin spoke at a meeting of the Organisation of American States (OAS). She said Haiti needs strong technical, financial, and logistical support. She urged the world to move from talking to taking action.
Haiti is facing severe violence. From April to June this year, about 1,408 people were killed. Another 656 people were injured. Most of this violence came from gangs.
The country plans to hold general elections on December 13. These would be the first elections in ten years. But many people worry that the violence could stop the elections. They fear it could also make people lose trust in the results.
Haiti has been politically unstable since President Jovenel Moise was killed in 2021. Since then, armed gangs have grown powerful. They now control many parts of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Over one million people have been forced to leave their homes because of the gangs.
The government has struggled to stop the violence. It also faces big problems like poverty and corruption.
The OAS Secretary-General, Albert Ramdin, said the OAS will send a team to watch the elections. This team will help make sure the vote is fair. He also said that one million identity cards must be made and given out before people can vote.
International help has also faced criticism. Some Haitians are worried about outside groups interfering in their country.
A past international mission, led by Kenya, ended in April. It was called the Multinational Security Support (MSS). It failed because it did not get enough money and support. The UN Security Council then created the GSF in October 2025. This GSF was meant to replace the MSS.
The GSF is allowed to fight gangs alone or with Haitian police. However, human rights groups say that Haitians fleeing the violence do not get enough support. This year, almost 200,000 people have been sent back to Haiti after trying to escape. This number is much higher than last year.
