On Friday, Guatemala and El Salvador deployed additional troops to Haiti as part of the United Nations-backed Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, aimed at combating the escalating gang violence that has plagued the country. A contingent of 75 Guatemalan soldiers and eight Salvadoran soldiers arrived in Haiti to support the Haitian National Police (PNH) in efforts to restore public order and reduce the influence of criminal gangs. A second group of 75 Guatemalan soldiers is also expected soon, further bolstering the international support for Haiti’s security forces.
The MSS mission, authorized by the UN Security Council in October 2023, is a response to the growing instability in Haiti, which has seen widespread gang violence and civil unrest since 2018. The mission, headed by Kenya, received a mandate renewal in September 2024. It calls on UN member states and regional organizations to provide personnel, resources, and logistical support to assist the Haitian government in regaining control and reestablishing law and order.
Gang violence in Haiti has reached alarming levels. A recent report by the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) documented a massacre by a gang in Port-au-Prince in December 2024, where 207 executions were recorded. The gangs have been responsible for a total of 5,350 killings and injuries in 2024 alone, with the Wharf Jérémie gang continuing to be active since 2022.
Additionally, UN human rights expert for Haiti, William O’Neill, highlighted the deliberate targeting of Haiti’s healthcare system by armed gangs, stressing the urgent need to safeguard access to medical services for the population.
Interim Haitian National Police Director-General, Normil Rameau, emphasized the importance of cooperation between the police and the people of Haiti in restoring security and achieving lasting peace. The international deployment of troops, alongside continued local efforts, is seen as critical in addressing the security crisis and improving the humanitarian situation in the country.
