Haiti Crisis: Failure of the Kenyan Mission and New Hopes for the Gang Suppression Force

High volatility is likely to continue until the end of May.

High volatility is likely to continue until the end of May.

The hopes of Haitian citizens to escape the grip of criminal gangs are being tested again. After the Kenyan-led security mission (MSS) was deemed to have failed to provide real protection, the international community has now launched the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) with a more aggressive mandate and a much larger number of personnel.

The tragic story of Monique Methellus Paul, a 52-year-old vegetable seller from Kenscoff, is a stark portrayal of this failure. In early 2024, she welcomed the arrival of a US-backed security support force with high hopes. However, in January 2025, her agricultural town was attacked by armed groups.

In the two-month attack, more than 260 people were killed and tens of thousands of residents fled. Paul’s house was burned down, her crops destroyed, and her livestock looted. “I spent 12 years building that house. Now I have nothing left,” she said sadly.

The Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, dominated by Kenyan police, faced sharp criticism during its 22-month mandate. Some of the main factors that caused the mission to fail include:

The UN Security Council is now pinning its hopes on the Gang Suppression Force (GSF). Unlike the MSS, the GSF has a more militaristic and autonomous structure:

Currently, 400 Chadian soldiers led by a Mongolian army general have arrived as the first wave. The GSF is expected to be fully operational by September, with funding of more than US$110 million, or approximately IDR 1.9 trillion, from UN member states.

Although military force is being increased, observers warn that weapons alone will not solve the Haiti crisis. Fundamental problems such as extreme poverty, with more than half of the population facing severe food insecurity, and the recruitment of children by gangs (up 200% according to UNICEF) require long-term political and economic solutions.

A Haitian police officer, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed his skepticism. “The security problem must be solved by the Haitian people themselves. I am not sure that this new force will change things if coordination and on-the-ground understanding remain limited,” he said. (The Washington Post/I-2)