Mohan Sinha
04 Sep 2025, 09:55 GMT+10
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti: The United Nations Security Council has started discussions on a new draft resolution for Haiti, aimed at strengthening international efforts to fight the country's armed gangs. However, Haitian security experts have warned that the plan still lacks detail and could repeat mistakes from the past.
For years, heavily armed gangs have taken over nearly all of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. Their violence has killed thousands of people, driven 1.3 million from their homes, and worsened a food crisis that has pushed many families to the brink of starvation.
The new proposal, introduced by the United States and Panama, would replace the current Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission with a more potent force called the Gang Suppression Force. The existing MSS mission, led by Kenyan police, has been criticized as both underfunded and too small to confront the gangs effectively.
Like the MSS, the new force would rely on voluntary contributions from international donors. But its leadership would be different. Instead of Kenya alone leading operations, a Standing Group would direct the mission. This group would include representatives from countries that have already contributed personnel, along with the United States and Canada. The Standing Group would choose a new force commander, and the mission would be supported by a new U.N. field office in Port-au-Prince.
The draft also urges the Organization of American States (OAS) to back up its promises with concrete support such as food rations, communication tools, and defense equipment.
However, Haitian analysts say the plan has serious flaws. They argue that the draft resolution does not clearly identify where long-term funding will come from. Others warn that it simply copies existing structures without addressing deeper issues fueling Haiti's crisis.
Independent security expert Ricardo Germain said he was worried not just about money but also about leadership transitions, noting that Kenya's struggles in leading the current mission could discourage other countries from stepping in.
Jack Ombaka, spokesperson for the MSS mission, said the team was still reviewing the proposal but stressed that any plan must deal directly with the threats on the ground and bring tangible benefits to the Haitian people.
James Boyard, a security expert at the State University of Haiti, argued that the draft resolution does not explain how the new force will work with Haitian police. He also warned that excluding Haiti from the Standing Group risks undermining the nation's sovereignty.
Foreign intervention in Haiti remains highly controversial. Past U.N. missions left deep scars, including civilian deaths, sexual abuse scandals, and a cholera outbreak linked to poor U.N. waste management that killed over 9,000 people.
Haiti's presidential office said it would wait until the final text of the resolution is released before commenting. The U.S. mission to the U.N. did not immediately respond to questions.
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