The Haitian government has reinforced its national police force with a significant delivery of armored vehicles as part of an intensified security strategy against rampant gang violence. Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé presided over the handover ceremony at police headquarters in Port-au-Prince, where 10 armored vehicles were received through collaborative efforts between the Canadian government and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).
During the ceremony, Prime Minister Fils-Aimé emphasized the critical connection between security stability and democratic processes. ‘Political stability, economic recovery, and social cohesion remain unattainable without the comprehensive restoration of republican order,’ he declared. The interim leader, who assumed power following the expiration of the Provisional Transitional Council’s mandate on February 7, specifically appealed for public support for security forces engaged in combat against criminal elements seeking to overthrow the transitional administration.
This latest donation represents part of a broader international support initiative addressing Haiti’s severe security deterioration. Canadian Ambassador André François Giroux reiterated his nation’s steadfast commitment to assisting Haitian law enforcement restoration efforts. The armored vehicle acquisition follows recent transfers of three tracked combat vehicles from South Korea, bringing Haiti’s total armored fleet to 35 units. Among these are three highly specialized tracked vehicles engineered for challenging terrain and offensive operations against heavily armed gangs.
Security reinforcements coincide with anticipated April deployments of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), which succeeds the struggling Kenya-led Multinational Security Support mission. The GSF’s mandate encompasses restoring state authority, diminishing gang territorial control, securing vital infrastructure, and facilitating Haiti’s transition to elected governance and sustainable stability.
Concurrently, the Organization of American States has scheduled an emergency permanent council meeting in Washington to evaluate Haiti’s evolving political landscape and review Secretary General Albert Ramdin’s progress report. Haiti has functioned without elected leadership since President Jovenel Moise’s assassination at his private residence overlooking Port-au-Prince on July 7, 2021.