Nairobi will commence the repatriation of its security personnel from Haiti starting Tuesday, marking the initial phase of a strategic drawdown from the international stabilization mission. This transition occurs simultaneously with preparations to deploy Chadian forces as part of a newly structured United Nations-backed security initiative.
Dominican Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez confirmed the progressive withdrawal plan, indicating that the Gang Suppression Force (GSF)—the mission’s successor—is projected to achieve full operational capacity by October. This staggered timeline facilitates an orderly handover, allowing incoming troops adequate preparation for Haiti’s complex security environment.
The GSF represents an evolution of the previous Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, which Kenya spearheaded to bolster the Haitian National Police against powerful criminal organizations controlling significant territories. Despite its authorization last year, the MSS operation remained predominantly Kenyan, with minimal reinforcements from Central American and Caribbean nations.
The predecessor mission confronted substantial operational hurdles, including critical shortages in personnel, financial resources, and tactical equipment. Originally conceptualized for 2,500 deployed personnel, the force reached only approximately 970 members—primarily from Kenya. After more than a year of operations targeting gang leadership, the mission proved unable to reclaim territory from armed factions, underscoring the challenges of international security interventions in Haiti’s volatile landscape.