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Haiti has called on the United Nations Security Council to renew the mandate of an international security force supporting local police as the Caribbean nation prepares for its first election in a decade amid persistent gang violence.
Foreign Minister Raina Forbin told an Organization of American States meeting on Thursday that the Gang Suppression Force needs to reach full deployment quickly. She also urged the Security Council to extend its 12-month mandate before it expires this month.
“We need technical, financial, logistical and safety support that is up to the challenge,” Forbin said, pointing to Haiti’s planned December 13 election. “We must now move from solidarity to action.”
OAS Secretary-General Albert Ramdin said discussions with Haiti’s provisional electoral council highlighted the urgent need for additional international assistance. Roughly 1 million national identity cards still need to be produced and distributed before Haitians can vote.
The OAS plans to send an Electoral Observation Mission at Haiti’s request and already has personnel in the country assisting efforts to organize a credible election.
Haiti’s electoral council has extended deadlines for several pre-election procedures and expects to release the official candidate list on October 14.
The country has not held an election since 2016. Subsequent governments repeatedly delayed voting as armed gangs expanded their territorial control and eventually formed a wider alliance.
Haiti initially requested foreign military assistance in 2022. A U.N.-backed security force arrived in 2024 but faced funding and equipment shortages, while its predominantly Kenyan contingent withdrew earlier this year.
The U.N. authorized the new Gang Suppression Force a year ago to strengthen efforts against armed groups. Justin Gorkowski, co-leader of a U.S. oversight team, said only about 20% of the mission has currently deployed in Haiti.
“The force is focusing its limited resources on priority areas,” Gorkowski said, adding that establishing the mission from the ground up requires time.
The push for a mandate extension comes as Haitian authorities face pressure to improve security sufficiently to allow the December election to proceed safely and credibly.
