The UN Security Council has called on secretary-general Antonio Guterres to come up with options to help combat Haiti’s armed gangs, including a possible UN peacekeeping force and a non-UN multinational force.
On Friday, in a resolution adopted unanimously by the council, Guterres was asked to report back on “a full range” of options within 30 days to improve the security situation, including additional training for the Haitian National Police and providing support to combat illegal arms trafficking to the impoverished Caribbean nation.
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It also authorizes up to 70 UN police and corrections advisers to scale up support and training for Haiti’s understaffed and underfunded national police force. And it “encourages” countries, especially in the Caribbean region, to respond to appeals from Haiti’s prime minister and from Guterres for the deployment of an international specialized force.
Last year, Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry sent an urgent appeal asking for “the immediate deployment of a specialized armed force, in sufficient quantity” to stop gang warfare.
Last week, Guterres, who visited Haiti earlier this month, called for a robust international force to help the Haitian National Police “defeat and dismantle the gangs.”
He said the estimate by the UN independent expert for Haiti, William O’Neill, that up to 2,000 additional anti-gang police officers are needed is no exaggeration.
In the French speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member state, the gangs have grown in power since the July 7, 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse and are now estimated to control up to 80 per cent of the capital. (CMC)
