UN criticizes Haiti for lack of progress on a political transition
THE UNITED NATIONS — The UN Security Council on Thursday criticized Haitian authorities for a lack of progress in achieving a political transition and called for urgent security sector reforms to combat growing violence by gangs and criminal groups.
The Council condemned in the strongest terms the surge in violence in Latin America’s poorest country, highlighting human rights violations and abuses, including sexual violence against women, men and children, as well as human trafficking, migrant smuggling, murders and the kidnapping of children by armed gangs.
The Council resolution, co-sponsored by the United States and Panama, and adopted unanimously, extends the UN political mission in Haiti until January 31, 2027.
The gangs have gained power since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. They now control 90% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and have expanded their activities into the countryside. Haiti has not had a president since the assassination.
A transition council has been one of the country’s main authorities since April 2024. It was created with the help of Caribbean leaders after gangs forced the closure of Haiti’s main international airport and targeted key state infrastructure in a series of unprecedented attacks that ultimately led former Prime Minister Ariel Henry to resign.
The council was responsible for selecting the Prime Minister of Haiti with the aim of quickly bringing some stability to the country. Since its creation, there have been three prime ministers. The council is supposed to disband by February 7, but it’s unclear if that will happen.
The United States last week warned the Transitional Council against making any changes to the government, as pressure mounted for the unelected body to head toward elections for the first time in a decade.
The U.N. Security Council on Sept. 30 authorized the creation of a so-called gang suppression force that would replace a smaller, U.N.-backed mission led by Kenyan police that was understaffed and underfunded. U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz said at the time that the force “offers hope to Haiti,” but there is no timetable yet for the deployment of its 5,500 members.
The resolution adopted Thursday revises the UN political mission’s mandate to focus on facilitating a “national dialogue” to support efforts to hold municipal, parliamentary and presidential elections.
It calls on the mission, known as BINUH, to cooperate closely with the gang suppression force and help Haitian authorities design a program to disarm and reintegrate people formerly associated with gangs, particularly children.
