The Security Council today renewed the mandate of the Gang Suppression Force in Haiti for six months, as speakers called for its rapid deployment to reclaim territory from armed gangs, restore State authority and create conditions for elections.
The Council adopted resolution 2829 (2026) (to be issued as document S/RES/2829(2026) ) by a vote of 12 in favour to none against, with 3 abstentions (China, Pakistan, Russian Federation), extending the mandate of the Gang Suppression Force until 31 March 2027.
By its terms, the 15-member organ requested the Secretary-General to report every six months on progress on the benchmarks set out in resolution 2793 (2025). It further noted the 27 July agreement between Haiti and the Gang Suppression Force confirming the Force's legal personality and encouraged Member States to acknowledge its legal status and accord the Force and its personnel privileges and immunities.
Also by the text, the Council stresses that the Force must operate in compliance with applicable international law, including international human rights law, and highlights the need for reintegration, psychosocial support and education for children formerly associated with gangs.
Haiti Calls for Full Deployment, Stronger National Institutions
Welcoming the renewal, the representative of Haiti stressed that the Force must now receive the personnel, equipment and operational capabilities needed to become fully operational. He urged the swift completion of legal, administrative and operational arrangements to facilitate deployment.
The objective is to enable the Haitian State to regain control of areas held by armed criminal groups, secure critical infrastructure, restore State authority and create the security conditions necessary for a return to constitutional order and elections, he said. "It is not enough to take territory from the gangs," he stressed, adding that recovered areas must be held, public services restored and criminal groups prevented from returning.
The Force must complement, rather than replace, Haitian institutions, he continued, calling for operational coordination with the Haitian National Police and Armed Forces, including through joint operations centres and secure information-sharing systems. International assistance should strengthen Haiti's national capacities without replacing its sovereign responsibilities.
United States Cites Progress, as China, Russian Federation Question Approach
The representative of the United States recalled that, for decades, the international community has watched Haiti "cycle through crisis after crisis", with "missions coming and going and millions of dollars spent". "We have to ask ourselves: 'For what?'," he said, noting that gangs have grown stronger while Haitian institutions have weakened. The Force "exists and, better yet, it is beginning to work".
The Force is "taking the fight to the gangs", clearing roads and neighbourhoods, liberating areas that had become "no-go zones" for the Haitian National Police and shutting down illegal tolls. Paying tribute to troops and police from Chad, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mongolia and Sri Lanka, he said: "They've left their homes and their families to take on some of the most violent gangs in our hemisphere - and that certainly takes courage." Haitians, he added, "can win back their streets, their lives and their futures for their families".
Other Council members cautioned against treating Haiti's crisis primarily as a security problem. "What the Security Council needs to discuss has never been whether to support Haiti, but how to support Haiti," stressed China's delegate, explaining his country's abstention. He expressed doubts that resorting to an external military force would alleviate a crisis that is "not a simple security question". Rather, it is a deep-seated problem of State governance, he said, pointing to collusion between police and gangs and noting that many Haitians, including children, join gangs because of economic desperation.
The representative of the Russian Federation, who also abstained, recalled that his country did not stand in the way of the Force's creation a year ago, although its model and financing left Moscow with many questions. The initiative has since encountered problems, he said, with delayed deployment also delaying preparations for general elections. "It is in the hands of the international community to stop the external supplies of Haitian criminals with weapons and money," he stressed.
Members Call for Funding, Deployment, Accountability
Pakistan's representative, also noting his abstention, underscored that Haiti's deep-rooted challenges require a holistic response that is nationally owned and executed. He voiced hope that the mechanism will be fully deployed and supported by sustained funding arrangements.
Colombia's delegate warned against new sources of financing for gangs in the region, including those linked to drug trafficking. The technical rollover provides continuity for progress towards deployment and will allow the Council in March to consider any necessary adjustments based on more comprehensive information about the Force's deployment and operational performance.
"The growing violence against the civilian population, as well as [the gangs'] expansion into new areas of the country, requires a firm response," he stated, citing security as a fundamental condition for peace and full restoration of Haiti's democratic institutions.
The representative of Greece stressed that the international community must provide the Force with the time, support and resources necessary to complete its deployment and achieve full operational capability. The Force must also have the necessary legal protections to carry out its mandate, he said, welcoming the agreement between Haiti and the Force confirming its legal personality, privileges and immunities.
Security Gains Must Pave Way for Elections
The representative of Latvia urged the Force, Haitian authorities and international partners to use the current "window of opportunity" to advance deployment, strengthen security and help create conditions for elections. Haitian authorities must simultaneously pursue measures beyond the Force's mandate, including disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, a comprehensive national security strategy and action addressing the structural causes of instability. "The international community can help create the necessary conditions, but key to sustainable progress depends on the strong action of the Haitian people," she stressed.
Similarly, the representative of the United Kingdom said the Force's successful deployment is key to addressing instability and "[turning] the tide against the gangs". London has contributed $7.5 million to the Force's human rights compliance mechanisms, she noted. Condemning gang attacks, including the use of civilians as human shields and sexual violence, she voiced hope that a successful Force will bring the "stability that the Haitian people deserve and pave the way to credible elections allowing Haitians to choose their next leaders".
Free, fair and inclusive elections are imperative once security conditions are met, said Denmark's delegate, while underscoring that the Force must act with transparency and discipline and "in strict compliance with international law". Children must be protected during counter-gang operations, she added. She called on Haiti's Government to redouble efforts to establish a functioning justice system that addresses impunity. "Haiti is at a critical juncture," she said, adding that the Force deserves international backing.
Bahrain's delegate welcomed the resolution as a reflection of international support for Haiti amid humanitarian and security challenges. Children must be protected from recruitment and use by armed groups and provided access to psychological care, he stressed, voicing hope that continued deployment will be ensured.
Regional Speakers Urge Resources, Haitian-Led Governance
Panama's representative emphasized the broader international solidarity underpinning the Council's decision. "Behind each decision adopted in this Council are the lives of millions of people," he said, adding: "It is only through complementary actions that address the multidimensional aspect of the crisis that we will be able to make progress towards lasting peace and stability in Haiti."
From the region, the representative of Jamaica, speaking on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), welcomed the renewal. While noting "discernible progress" from the Force's initial deployment, he said its rollout has been slower than optimal and urged it to reach full operational capacity as soon as possible.
CARICOM called for international support for the Force, Haitian National Police and armed forces, including financial, logistical and operational resources. Countries able to assist should provide troop airlift, air and sea monitoring equipment, technical assistance, language training and translation. He also voiced deep concern over violence affecting women, girls and young people, including sexual and gender-based violence, exploitation and recruitment by criminal groups.
Security must create conditions for elections and the "full restoration of democratic governance in Haiti, led and owned by the Haitian people", he stressed, declaring: "Armed gangs will not be allowed to determine Haiti's future nor, indeed, that of the Caribbean region."
The representative of the Dominican Republic cautioned that "this extension is not an end in itself". Rather, it gives the Force time to complete its deployment. A fully deployed Force would help create conditions for elections and allow the Haitian people to "control their destiny", he said, adding that the Council's decision will depend on the resources accompanying it. "Security opens the way, but security alone is not enough to keep that path open."
