UN Security Council approves Gang Suppression Force' for Haiti

"International mission would surge personnel in Haiti, with mandate to neutralise, isolate, and deter' gangs. The United Nations Security Council has voted to expand an international security force deployed to Haiti and transform it into a so-called Gang Suppression Force. The resolution passed by the council on Friday provides a clear mandate for the force to work with local authorities to neutralise, isolate, and deter gangs, secure infrastructure, and seek to secure institutional stability."

"It would raise the personnel ceiling from 2,500 in the current mission, first approved in 2023, to 5,550 personnel. list of 3 itemsend of list The resolution also requests that the UN secretary-general establish a UN Support Office in Haiti to provide increased logistical support amid the Caribbean nation's overlapping security, humanitarian and political crises. The result today allows us to have the necessary reconfiguration on the ground in order to face the gangs and, therefore, address the insecurity situation in the country,"

"Panama and the United States first introduced the latest resolution in August. It passed on Tuesday with 12 votes in favour and none against. Permanent Security Council members China and Russia, along with rotating member Pakistan, abstained from the vote. Following the vote, Russian envoy Vassily Nebenzia said the tools of international assistance to Haiti previously approved by the Security Council had failed to produce any sustainable results."

The UN Security Council approved expanding and reconfiguring the international security mission in Haiti into a Gang Suppression Force with a clear mandate to neutralise, isolate, and deter gangs. The force is tasked to secure infrastructure and seek institutional stability while working with local authorities. Personnel levels would rise from 2,500 to 5,550. The resolution requests a UN Support Office in Haiti to provide increased logistical support amid overlapping security, humanitarian, and political crises. The vote passed 12-0 with China, Russia and Pakistan abstaining, and critics warned of past intervention failures and broad use-of-force language.

Read at www.aljazeera.com