Sunday, 5th April 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 27th February 2025, 3:20 AM
UNITED NATIONS, 27 February 2025 (BSS/AFP) – As Haiti grapples with escalating gang violence, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged the United Nations to provide logistical and financial support to the multinational police mission deployed in the country. However, he dismissed the prospect of immediately deploying UN peacekeepers.
In a letter to the UN Security Council, seen by AFP on Wednesday, Guterres stated that “at this stage, transitioning to a UN peacekeeping operation is not assessed as a feasible option.”
“Such a transition could be considered once significant progress has been made in substantially reducing gang territorial control,” he added, while UN officials emphasised that combating armed groups and enforcing law and order are not the role of peacekeepers.
Haiti, one of the poorest nations in the Caribbean, has long struggled with political instability and insecurity. Over the past year, armed gangs have intensified their violence, forcing Prime Minister Ariel Henry to step down.
According to the UN, more than 5,600 people were killed in 2024, while authorities recorded 1,500 kidnappings and thousands of sexual assaults.
Despite the formation of a Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS), approved by the Security Council in 2023, its deployment remains limited. At present, only 1,000 officers from six nations are operating in Haiti—far below the expected 2,500.
Guterres warned that in much of Port-au-Prince, gangs are now acting as de facto authorities.
“Violence is likely to escalate considerably during the upcoming electoral period, as gang leaders seek to rebrand themselves as political actors to gain immunity and legitimacy,” he cautioned.
In response to repeated requests from Haitian transitional authorities to convert the police mission into a full-fledged UN peacekeeping force, the Security Council has yet to reach a consensus.
Guterres, however, maintained that the MSS remains the most viable solution for the medium term. Yet, he acknowledged its operational shortcomings, given its lack of adequate funding, equipment, and personnel.
To strengthen the mission, he proposed establishing a “UN Support Office”, which would oversee logistics, accommodation, food, and transport, funded through the UN peacekeeping budget.
At the same time, the multinational force would require a significant expansion, with additional military-grade capabilities and lethal equipment supplied bilaterally by member states.
Guterres also highlighted the unsuitability of many donated armoured vehicles for Haiti’s urban combat conditions, noting that half are currently out of service due to a shortage of spare parts.
Beyond security efforts, he advocated for an enhanced UN political mission in Haiti, including:
Guterres stressed the urgency of the situation, warning that every fresh wave of gang attacks on communities and institutions signalled that Haiti’s crisis is deepening.
“Each new wave of criminal attacks against Haiti’s communities and institutions is a distressing sign that time is running out,” he wrote. “We must act quickly.”
The crisis in Haiti is not just a national issue but a regional security concern, as escalating violence has led to mass migration, particularly to the United States and neighbouring Caribbean nations.
Haiti’s fragile governance has also raised fears of the country becoming a safe haven for organised crime and drug trafficking, prompting calls for greater international intervention.
While the UN remains reluctant to deploy a peacekeeping force, the fate of millions of Haitians now depends on how quickly the international community can reinforce the MSS and broader humanitarian efforts before the situation spirals further out of control.
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