GSF Confirmed in 'Early Phase of Establishment'; Operational Framework With HNP Finalized

Official reporting from Xinhua and Haitian media outlets on April 24, 2026, confirmed that the Gang Suppression Force is in an 'early phase of establishment' with its initial deployment plan approved and operations proceeding in phases. The classification reflects the current state of the 545-strong advance contingent — consisting of approximately 400 Chadian, 70 Salvadoran, and 75 Guatemalan troops — conducting joint operations with the Haitian National Police across Port-au-Prince. The finalized operational framework establishes procedures for joint operations, detentions, and handoffs to the HNP — key protocol elements resolved in the days following the April 23 UN Security Council briefing by Special Representative Jack Christofides. Full operational capacity targeting 5,500 personnel is not expected until fall to end of 2026. The 'early phase' designation is significant given the security gap that emerged following the phased withdrawal of 803 Kenyan MSS officers, with 23 communes in Haiti still assessed as inaccessible to state authority as of April 2026. The GSF's disclosed December 2025–February 2026 operational tempo — 1,343 suspected gang members killed — suggests the advance force has been actively engaging gang strongholds despite its limited size relative to the full authorized strength.