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At the United Nations headquarters in New York, world leaders gathered to mark the 80th anniversary of the UN. During the annual meeting, the United States and Kenya hosted a special event focused on Haiti’s deepening crisis, where armed gangs have taken control of nearly all of Port-au-Prince. The violence has displaced over 1.3 million people and left many facing famine-level hunger.
Kenyan President William Ruto told the gathering that the current multinational security mission in Haiti, led by Kenya, has been struggling to meet its goals. Launched 15 months ago, the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission was expected to have 2,500 security personnel but has only been operating at about 40% of that number. Its mandate from the UN Security Council is due to expire on October 2. For the mandate to be extended or changed, at least nine of the 15 Council members must vote in favor, with no vetoes from the U.S., Britain, China, France, or Russia.
Ruto acknowledged that the U.S. had helped with logistics and provided vehicles, but most were second-hand and often broke down in dangerous areas, putting lives at risk. “They did step up, but unfortunately, we didn’t get any useful support from elsewhere,” he said. He warned that without correcting the mistakes of the past, any new mission could also fall short.
The U.S. and Panama have introduced a draft resolution proposing to replace the current force with a new, larger Gang Suppression Force, supported by a dedicated UN field office. Unlike the MSS, this new force would be directed by a leadership group including representatives from countries contributing personnel, as well as the United States and Canada. Funding and staffing would still depend on voluntary contributions from the international community.
This proposal comes after a U.S.-led effort last year to turn the MSS into a full UN peacekeeping operation. That plan was blocked by Russia and China, who opposed expanding the mission’s mandate. Still, the U.S. argues that a stronger, more structured force is urgently needed. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said Haiti is at a critical turning point, with gangs terrorizing neighborhoods, extorting families, and recruiting vulnerable children. He announced that Washington is also imposing sanctions on two former Haitian officials.
Landau stressed that the MSS simply does not have the mandate or resources to deal with the worsening crisis. He said the U.S. was committed to building support for a stronger force that can respond more effectively to the threats on the ground.
China’s deputy UN Ambassador, Geng Shuang, indicated Beijing’s willingness to support the mission’s continued role in Haiti but emphasized that Haitians must take the lead in restoring stability. “Haiti needs to assume primary responsibility by taking concrete actions,” he said.
Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council also expressed support for the new proposal. Council president Laurent Saint-Cyr told the meeting that security remains the greatest obstacle to holding elections and achieving a peaceful transition of power. Without addressing the violence, he said, Haiti cannot move forward politically.
The situation has left Haiti at a crossroads. With gangs tightening their grip on the capital and millions struggling to survive, the international community is under pressure to act. Whether the Security Council can agree on a new force and whether countries are willing to contribute the needed personnel and resources will determine Haiti’s path in the months ahead. Kenya has signaled its readiness to stay involved but insists that lessons from past shortcomings must be learned if the new mission is to succeed.