The United Nations Security Council will vote on Tuesday on whether to strengthen its presence in Haiti by transforming the current Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission into a more robust force. The proposal, put forward by the United States and Panama, seeks to increase the mission’s size and scope in response to the escalating gang violence that has destabilized the Caribbean nation.
At present, about 1,000 international police officers most of them from Kenya are deployed under the MSS, which was first approved in 2023. However, the mission has produced mixed results, with Haiti’s fragile security situation deteriorating further in recent months. Armed gangs now control large swathes of the capital, Port-au-Prince, displacing more than a million people and crippling essential services.
Laurent Saint-Cyr, head of Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council, described the country’s condition as “a contemporary Guernica” during a recent UN address. He urged member states to back the proposal for a stronger force, warning that daily killings, kidnappings, and destruction have left Haitians living in fear.
The proposed mandate would allow for a maximum of 5,500 uniformed personnel, including both police officers and military troops. This represents a significant shift from the MSS’s purely law enforcement role. The expanded force would be supported by a UN-based logistics and finance office to ensure adequate resources.
Kenyan President William Ruto has expressed confidence that with the right tools, Haiti’s security can be restored. Meanwhile, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau emphasized that the new mandate would empower international forces to directly target gangs and stabilize the country.
Still, the proposal faces uncertainty. While most Security Council members support it, both China and Russia have previously abstained from related votes and could use their veto power. Their stance during Tuesday’s session will be decisive in determining whether Haiti receives the reinforced international backing it urgently needs.
