UN Security Council extends mandate of international force in Haiti — TimesLIVE
The UN Security Council has extended for six months the mandate of the international security force in Haiti, which is tasked with countering armed groups that control a significant part of the country. According to TimesLIVE, 12 countries voted in favor of the decision, none voted against it, while China, Russia and Pakistan abstained.
Representatives of the three countries that abstained expressed concerns over a lack of funding and personnel, as well as the mission's effectiveness. The renewed mandate will remain in force until March 31, 2027.
Security ahead of elections
The extension of the mandate is intended to help ensure security ahead of elections scheduled for December 13. These will be Haiti's first elections in ten years. Final election results are expected on March 7.
Haitian leaders first requested international security support in 2022. The current force is staffed at less than 30% of its planned strength, while armed groups continue to control large areas of the country despite international deployments.
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Force strength and new attacks
US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said that about 1,500 personnel of the Gang Suppression Force have been deployed in Haiti. According to him, another 4,000 are expected to arrive in the coming months. He also noted that previous international missions in Haiti had limited success.
The vote took place several hours after an attack in the country's agricultural region, where gang members burned homes and killed at least 11 people. The local mayor said it was retaliation after a GSF unit killed three gang members during an operation against illegal toll collection points.
A month earlier, at least 47 people were killed and around 50 others were abducted in the town of Kenscoff near the capital. Due to the deteriorating security situation, nearly 1.5 million residents of Haiti have been forced to leave their homes.
