As tensions escalate in Haiti, the UN Security Council is set to address the urgent situation following a violent attack on international forces, highlighting the critical role of international military intervention in stabilizing the region. With gangs exerting significant control over the capital, Port-au-Prince, the upcoming discussions will not only focus on the immediate crisis but also on the broader implications for peace and security in Haiti as the nation approaches its first general election in over a decade.
International forces in Haiti are actively pursuing contact with four Salvadoran soldiers who went missing after their armored vehicle was attacked by violent gangs on Sunday. The soldiers, part of the United Nations-backed Gang Suppression Force (GSF), narrowly escaped the burning vehicle in Croix-des-Bouquets, located north of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
This attack marks the first major incident against international forces since the GSF commenced operations earlier this year. The Salvadoran Armed Forces reported that the soldiers, who served as aviation technicians, were on their way back to camp when they encountered an ambush. In response, helicopters were dispatched to establish contact and locate the missing personnel; however, they also came under fire during their efforts shortly thereafter.
“Multiple attempts to approach by land and air have been made, but the intensity of the fighting has hampered these efforts,” the Salvadoran military stated. In the wake of the attack, the GSF has urged local residents to remain indoors as they assess the situation.
A UN Security Council meeting is scheduled for later today, with this attack expected to dominate discussions. The GSF officially commenced operations on June 1 and is projected to reach full operational capacity by the year’s end. Currently, the force counts over 1,500 troops on the ground in Haiti, including personnel from Chad, Jamaica, and Guatemala.
No group has claimed responsibility for the assault, which underscores the formidable influence of armed gangs that control approximately 70 percent of Port-au-Prince. The area where the attack occurred is known to be dominated by gangs, such as Kraze Barye, led by Vitelhomme Innocent, and 400 Mawozo, led by Lanmo Sanjou. Both leaders have been sanctioned by the UN and the United States.
A recent UN Security Council report highlights the alarming prevalence of violence employed by these gangs, including murder, kidnapping, and sexual violence, all occurring against a backdrop of widespread impunity. Haiti has been in a state of crisis since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, resulting in an ongoing political deadlock and dire humanitarian conditions.
In the last few years, gang violence has displaced a record 1.5 million people within Haiti, as the UN reports over 5,700 individuals have been killed or injured from January to mid-September this year, along with 230 recorded kidnappings. The context of this violence further complicates the country’s upcoming general elections and the path towards peace and stability in the region.
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