标签： Haiti

Haiti’s Ministry of the Interior and Territorial Communities (MICT) has concluded a two-day capacity-building workshop focused on equipping local leaders with tools to prevent and combat widespread insecurity across the country, officials confirmed this week. Held September 18–19, the event brought together mayors from Haiti’s metropolitan area, senior officers from the Haitian National Police, independent security analysts, and leadership from the country’s Gang Suppression Force (GSF) to align local and national security strategies.

The core goal of the workshop was to provide municipal leaders with actionable, legally compliant frameworks to address rising insecurity at the local level. A central point of discussion was the co-development of tailored Municipal Security Plans, which outline localized responses to gang violence and organized crime that align with national law enforcement priorities. Participants also emphasized the urgent need to strengthen interagency coordination between municipal governments, national government commissioners, and law enforcement entities to disrupt criminal networks operating across jurisdictional lines.

Chaired by Secretary of State for Local Government Sharina Lochard, the workshop highlighted the critical role that local leadership plays in community safety. Lochard publicly commended the ongoing commitment of Haitian mayors to protecting their constituents, and reaffirmed MICT’s commitment under Minister Paul Antoine Bien-Aimé to expanding local government authority and participation in national crime prevention efforts. This initiative builds on earlier consultations between MICT, interim executive agents, and GSF representatives, who collectively identified a need for coordinated, on-the-ground action to reverse deteriorating security conditions.

MICT officials state that the workshop is a key step forward in aligning local action with Prime Minister Fils-Aimé’s national governance and recovery roadmap. By strengthening local security capacity, the ministry aims to create the stable conditions needed to restore free movement of people and goods across the country, lay the groundwork for upcoming national elections, and support long-term economic recovery amid ongoing security challenges.

In a pre-recorded address delivered to the 81st United Nations General Assembly on September 25, 2026, Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé laid out a balanced, two-pronged strategy to lift his crisis-battered nation out of ongoing instability, stressing that Haiti does not demand global rescue — it requests international support to help Haitians save themselves.

Opening his speech, Fils-Aimé extended formal gratitude to the country’s global and regional partners, including the United Nations, United States, Canada, France, Mexico, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Organization of American States (OAS), and European Union for their existing assistance. He then pressed the international community to accelerate the full deployment of the UN-backed Gang Suppression Force (GSF), a multinational security mission authorized by the Security Council in September 2025 that was designed to replace the underperforming Kenya-led multinational mission that never reached its targeted troop strength.

The prime minister’s vision of Haiti taking full control of its own destiny stands in stark contrast to the grim on-the-ground reality currently facing the Caribbean nation. Gangs currently hold sway over the vast majority of the capital Port-au-Prince and its critical transport routes, and violence that was once concentrated in the capital is now spreading to previously peaceful regions across the country. While limited security operations in Port-au-Prince have yielded minor incremental gains, they have failed to break the pervasive hold criminal groups have on the capital. Instead, increased pressure in the capital has pushed many gang factions into remote areas where state presence is even weaker, shifting the center of violence rather than eliminating it.

For Fils-Aimé, the long-term path to stability hinges on building up Haiti’s domestic security forces to allow the country to eventually take full ownership of its security. To date, more than 2,000 new Haitian police officers have completed training, a number the prime minister says he aims to double in the near term. The Haitian national army has also added 1,500 new recruits, and the government has unveiled plans to train an additional 15,000 soldiers over the next three years. “Haiti’s long-term security must rely on the capabilities of the Haitian state,” Fils-Aimé emphasized. Alongside building domestic capacity, the prime minister called for a renewal of the GSF’s mandate, noting that the mission remains drastically understaffed, far from its authorized maximum strength of 5,500 police and military personnel. “A mandate is not enough. We need personnel. We need resources. We need the determination to see this through,” he told the assembly.

Beyond domestic security efforts, Fils-Aimé also targeted the transnational networks that fuel gang violence, noting that nearly all weapons used by criminal groups are smuggled into Haiti despite an existing international arms embargo. “The weapons that kill Haitians […] are not produced in Haiti,” he reminded delegates, urging global partners to coordinate to dismantle the illicit supply networks that arm criminal factions.

Security gains are intended to clear the way for a return to constitutional democratic rule, the prime minister added. Haiti has not held national elections since 2016, and the first round of presidential and legislative elections is currently scheduled for December 13 this year, contingent on sufficient improvements to the security situation. Fils-Aimé confirmed that the current transitional administration will end with a democratic vote at the ballot box. To strengthen the rule of law alongside elections, the government has already established two specialized judicial centers, and new penal and criminal procedure codes are set to take effect on January 1, 2027. Security, judicial reform, and democratic elections form the three core pillars of the government’s plan to rebuild functional state institutions, he explained.

On the economic and humanitarian front, Fils-Aimé outlined a goal to shift Haiti’s economic model from reliance on international aid to sustainable foreign investment and equitable partnership. Even as the government pursues this long-term goal, the country faces an immediate acute humanitarian crisis: an estimated 6.4 million Haitians — more than half the country’s population — require life-saving humanitarian assistance, and nearly 1.5 million people have been displaced by gang violence.

Closing his address, Fils-Aimé framed the current moment as a defining test for Haiti more than two centuries after it gained independence. “We have proven to the world that freedom is possible,” he said. “Haiti must now demonstrate its capacity to reclaim its own territory.” The core of the challenge, as presented to the UN General Assembly, is building a self-sufficient Haitian state even as the country relies on immediate international support to survive.

In a coordinated show of regional solidarity, all 32 active member states of the Organization of American States (OAS) have released a unified joint statement calling on the United Nations Security Council to extend the operating mandate of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) deployed in Haiti, while pressing the global community to deliver the full suite of resources needed to make the deployment fully functional and sustainable. The statement, issued on September 25, 2026, reiterates member states’ unwavering solidarity with the Haitian people, formal respect for Haiti’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and a shared commitment to advancing solutions led by Haitian national stakeholders. It also underlines the obligation to implement OAS General Assembly Resolution AG/RES. 3051 (LVI-O/26), a measure adopted in June 2026 that structures OAS support to Haiti while centering Haitian leadership and aligning assistance with coordination frameworks involving the United Nations, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and other key regional and international partners.

The full list of signatory states includes Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint-Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States of America, and Uruguay.

OAS Secretary General Albert R. Ramdin, who led a high-level fact-finding mission to Haiti from August 16 to 19, 2026, publicly endorsed the joint statement, emphasizing that the international community must deliver on the Haitian people’s demand for stability by backing both the GSF and an urgent mandate renewal. “The Force is on the ground playing an essential role in helping Haitian authorities regain territorial control, restore access to critical infrastructure, improve public safety, and create the security environment necessary for institutions to function and for elections to take place,” Ramdin noted. He added that a renewed mandate alone is insufficient to deliver tangible change: “A mandate, by itself, does not produce results. We must also ensure that the results Haitians need in terms of security are properly sourced. Results require personnel, financing, equipment, logistics and of course sustained political support.” Following his August mission, Ramdin presented a report to the OAS Permanent Council identifying security and electoral progress as interconnected urgent priorities for the country.

Haiti’s Permanent Representative to the OAS, Jean Josué Pierre, emphasized that the declaration sends an unambiguous message to the international community: “renew the mandate of the Gang Suppression Force, ensure its full deployment, strengthen Haiti’s security institutions, protect the population, and create the conditions for Haiti to advance toward credible elections and lasting stability.”

Steve Ferrol, Chair of the OAS Permanent Council and Permanent Representative of Dominica to the organization, highlighted that the unified statement demonstrates regional commitment beyond internal political divides. “By speaking together, we as OAS member states are demonstrating that support for Haiti transcends political differences and reflects a common commitment to peace, democracy, human rights, and human dignity for Haiti, and for the region as a whole,” Ferrol said.

The joint statement outlines core operational priorities for the GSF, which is mandated to support the Haitian National Police and Haiti’s Armed Forces in line with their respective institutional mandates. Key priorities include reestablishing legitimate state control over gang-held territories, securing critical entry points including the country’s main airport and seaports, reopening blocked major transportation routes, protecting civilian populations, and enabling sustained permanent presence of the Haitian National Police at strategic infrastructure sites and in territories reclaimed from armed gangs.

Signatory states also called for expanded disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programs for former gang members, alongside targeted measures to restore unimpeded humanitarian access to vulnerable populations, rebuild core public services, and expand socioeconomic opportunities – particularly for Haitian youth. The statement explicitly requires all operations carried out by the GSF and supported Haitian security institutions to adhere to international law and established international human rights standards.

To address the root drivers of gang violence, the declaration calls for coordinated national, regional and global action to crack down on the illicit trafficking of arms and ammunition into Haiti, disrupt the transnational financial and supply networks that sustain armed criminal groups, and hold accountable all actors that provide financing or material support to gang activity.

On the path to restoring democratic and constitutional order, member states emphasized that electoral preparations should proceed in lockstep with improving security conditions. They encouraged international support for core electoral processes including civil identification updates, voter registration, and electoral logistics, as well as the deployment of a formal OAS Electoral Observation Mission to oversee upcoming polls.

Finally, the statement reiterates the need for close coordinated action among Haiti’s national government, the OAS, the United Nations, CARICOM, and all other international partners. The Haitian-Led Roadmap for Stability and Peace, facilitated by Ramdin’s office, serves as the overarching framework to align international assistance with priorities set by Haitian authorities and national stakeholders, and to monitor progress on fulfillment of all international commitments. The full text of the joint declaration is available for download via the OAS document portal.

In a September 24, 2026 address to the ministerial meeting of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti, United Nations Secretary-General Special Representative Carlos Ruiz Massieu laid out a cohesive, multi-pronged strategy to convert incremental security gains against gang activity into long-term, sustainable stability for the crisis-battered Caribbean nation.

Massieu opened his remarks by thanking the Advisory Group and Canada, which holds the group’s leadership, for reconvening international stakeholders and maintaining consistent diplomatic and operational engagement with Haiti. He centered his speech on a core question: how the global community and Haitian national institutions can build on current security progress to deliver tangible, lasting improvements to everyday Haitian lives.

With the UN Security Council set to review and renew the mandate of the multinational Gang Suppression Force (GSF) before the end of September 2026, Massieu emphasized that sustained international unity behind the mission remains non-negotiable. While mandate renewal is a critical foundational step, he argued it is only one component of effective security action. The GSF must reach full operational deployment and capacity as rapidly as possible, he said, even as Haitian national authorities work to build up their own domestic security institutions.

Even as offensive security operations push gangs out of controlled territory, Massieu warned that military and police progress alone is not enough to lock in gains. Once an area is cleared of armed groups, state authority and basic public services must be restored immediately: local government presence, civilian policing, functional schools, accessible judicial institutions, and resumed economic activity. Without this rapid follow-through, a power vacuum will emerge, giving gangs room to reassert control, he explained.

To avoid this outcome, Massieu called for coordinated, rapid pre-planning among Haitian national authorities, UN agencies, international development partners, and global financial institutions to mobilize response efforts the moment security gains are achieved. Crucially, he stressed that Haitian national institutions must lead all response efforts, pointing to decades of past international engagement in Haiti that show progress only endures when local institutions can establish legitimacy, deliver services, and build trust with local communities.

Beyond securing and holding cleared territory, Massieu highlighted two underaddressed challenges that threaten long-term stability: gang recruitment and the unregulated flow of illegal weapons that fuel ongoing violence. This gap, he said, makes disarmament, dismantlement, and reintegration (DDR) an essential, non-negotiable component of any stabilization strategy. Work underway with Haitian authorities to develop a national, Haitian-led comprehensive DDR framework is therefore a critical priority.

Contrary to common framing, Massieu argued that DDR does not need to wait for full security restoration. Instead, it should run parallel to active security operations, creating credible exit pathways for gang members who want to leave armed violence, whether individually or as a group, establishing specific protective pathways for children exploited by gangs, and blocking further recruitment of vulnerable youth. This approach does not weaken security operations or grant impunity to gang leaders, he clarified; instead, it makes sustained security pressure more effective by giving members an incentive to exit as pressure on criminal networks grows.

That said, Massieu emphasized that accountability and justice must be integrated into stabilization efforts from the very start. Haitian communities that have suffered widespread gang violence demand a clear separation between disengagement pathways for lower-level members and impunity for leaders responsible for mass atrocities. This means advancing security, DDR, and justice in lockstep: maintaining pressure on armed networks, creating differentiated support for vulnerable participants (especially children), and holding perpetrators of grave crimes accountable. In this context, he noted that progress toward launching specialized judicial units to investigate and prosecute serious gang-related violence is particularly important.

Finally, Massieu tied security and stabilization progress directly to Haiti’s ongoing political transition. The country’s electoral process, already underway, will only be able to proceed broadly and fairly if basic security conditions are established first. Reopening strategic transport routes, restoring state presence, and guaranteeing freedom of movement are not just security goals — they are essential requirements for reopening the space for democratic political life to resume. As Haitian institutions consider necessary adjustments to keep the electoral process on track, Massieu urged stakeholders to maintain momentum, preserve public confidence in the process, and prevent political uncertainty from becoming a new source of instability.

In closing, Massieu reiterated that progress on each priority — security, DDR, justice, and elections — depends on progress in the others. Without credible exit pathways from violence, security gains will remain fragile; without consistent accountability, DDR will be seen as a path to impunity for criminal leaders; without tangible political progress toward democratic governance, none of the gains will endure. This integrated, mutually reinforcing approach sits at the core of the UN and UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) mandate, which works alongside Haitian authorities and international partners to coordinate a cohesive response.

Achieving this goal, however, requires sustained, coordinated international support. The ECOSOC Ad Hoc Advisory Group, Massieu said, has a critical role to play in maintaining global attention on Haiti, mobilizing needed resources, and aligning international support behind Haitian-led priorities. The recently launched Multi-Partner Trust Fund provides a concrete, functional mechanism to bring together international partners and resources around shared national priorities, and Massieu called for full utilization of the fund to deliver coordinated, ongoing support to Haiti. “This is a window of opportunity that we cannot miss,” Massieu said. “It must be seized.”