Haitian Government Formally Calls on UN Security Council to Renew Gang Suppression Force Mandate

Haiti's Foreign Ministry formally called on the UN Security Council on September 4, 2026 to renew the mandate of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), which is set to expire September 30, 2026 absent Council action. Foreign Minister Raina Forbin said, "We need technical, financial, logistical and safety support that is up to the challenge. We must now move from solidarity to action." OAS Secretary-General Albert Ramdin, addressing the same juncture, said "Haiti is at a critical juncture. Our responsibility is clear: to strengthen security efforts, advance electoral preparations." The appeal comes as Haiti works toward general elections scheduled for December 13, 2026 — the country's first in a decade — with roughly 1 million identity cards still needed before eligible voters can register. The Ministry cited BINUH's April-June 2026 toll of 1,408 people killed and 656 injured, more than 1 million people displaced nationwide since 2021, and nearly 200,000 Haitians forcibly returned from abroad in the first eight months of 2026 alone. The GSF, authorized under Resolution 2793 in October 2025 with a 5,550-person ceiling, remains well short of full strength as its initial 12-month mandate nears expiration, with the US and Panama expected to seek Security Council re-authorization this month.