The United States and Panama are pressing the UN Security Council to authorize a 5,550-member multinational force with powers to detain gang members in Haiti, in a bid to confront spiraling violence that has pushed the country to the brink of collapse.
According to a draft resolution obtained Wednesday by the Associated Press, the two countries are seeking to transform the Kenya-led security mission—currently deployed in Haiti—into a much larger and more robust force.
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The Kenya-led mission, which began operations in June 2024, was intended to deploy 2,500 personnel. But funding shortfalls and logistical challenges have left fewer than 1,000 troops on the ground, far short of what UN officials say is necessary to restore order.
Since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, criminal gangs have tightened their grip on Haiti. They now control roughly 90 percent of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and have extended their reach into rural areas, carrying out kidnappings, sexual assaults, rapes, and widespread looting. Haiti has remained without a president since Moïse’s killing, compounding the crisis.
The six-page draft resolution acknowledges Kenya’s leadership but underscores UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ February warning that the current force is too small to confront Haiti’s expanding gang networks.
Acting U.S. Ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea signaled Washington’s intentions on August 28, announcing that the U.S. would seek authorization for a new Gang Suppression Force. The proposal calls for 5,500 uniformed personnel and 50 civilian staff, funded through voluntary contributions. It does not specify which countries would provide the additional troops.
If approved, the expanded mission would operate for an initial 12-month period, working alongside Haiti’s government. The force would be tasked with detaining gang leaders, securing vital infrastructure such as ports, airports, schools, and hospitals, and supporting Haitian police and military units in combating arms trafficking.
The draft also authorizes participating nations to carry out “independent, intelligence-led targeted counter-gang operations to neutralize, isolate, and deter gangs that continue to threaten the civilian population, abuse human rights, and undermine Haitian institutions.”
The Security Council’s mandate for the current Kenya-led mission expires on October 2, with a vote on the U.S.–Panama proposal expected by the end of September.
If approved, the resolution would mark one of the most significant escalations in international involvement in Haiti since the devastating 2010 earthquake. But questions remain over troop commitments, funding, and whether a foreign-led security force can succeed where Haitian institutions have struggled to survive.
