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Briefing outlines multinational plan for Haiti Gang Suppression Force
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Summary
Jack Christofidis told the council that a phased, internationally supported Gang Suppression Force will prioritize training, coordination with Haitian authorities and civilian-protection safeguards as it seeks to reduce gangs' operational capacity and restore state control.
Jack Christofidis, who briefed the council, said international partners are assembling a phased Gang Suppression Force (GSF) to help reduce the operational capacity of gangs in Haiti and create space for Haitian institutions to reassert control. “There is an urgent need for concrete action to restore security and hope,” Christofidis told the council.
Christofidis said the GSF is being built "as a disciplined, accountable, and partnership driven mission" and stressed it would operate in a manner that respects Haitian sovereignty. He credited a prior multinational security support mission led by Canada and Kenya and said that mission, under Force Commander Godfrey Otunge, had laid the groundwork the GSF will build upon.
He described a deployment plan developed in consultation with Haitian authorities that focuses on priority areas and leverages specialized capabilities contributed by member states. An initial deployment package has been approved, he said, and deployments will take place in phases over the coming months; Christofidis added that efforts are under way to broaden participation and ensure the mission has the required capabilities.
Civilian components and core structures for intelligence-led mission planning, coordination and oversight are being advanced, Christofidis said, and pre-deployment and induction training are being prioritized so personnel operate "in full compliance with international standards." He said maritime and border dimensions — including support for Haiti's ability to manage ports and commercial entry points — will be particularly important.
Christofidis also highlighted coordination with the United Nations system, naming Daniela Kroslak as the newly appointed head of the United Nations Support Office in Haiti (UNSO), and cited engagement with regional partners, including the Dominican Republic, to strengthen cooperation on border management.
On detention and judicial processing, Christofidis said joint planning with the Haitian National Police and other authorities is establishing procedures for detention, transfer and judicial handling of detainees, and he emphasized civilian protection and adherence to international human-rights law. "We know that effectiveness without accountability will not build trust, but accountability without effectiveness will not deliver security," he said.
Christofidis described the GSF as a focused, time‑bound effort that will require sustained international support, disciplined implementation and realistic expectations. He said the mission is intended not as an end in itself but as a means to enable Haitian institutions to regain control and create conditions for longer-term stability. The presiding officer thanked Christofidis for the briefing and gave the floor to other participants; no formal vote or decision was recorded in this briefing.
