Haiti’s Gang Suppression Force nears 5,500-troop target after international pledges

The United States and Canada have welcomed new international commitments toward Haiti’s Gang Suppression Force (GSF), following a force generation conference held December 9 in New York that brought together partner countries seeking to stabilize the violence-plagued nation.

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In a joint statement released December 12 by the two governments on behalf of the Standing Group of Partners, Washington and Ottawa said the participation and pledges made at the conference reflect a shared determination to help Haitians confront ongoing security challenges threatening both national and regional stability.

The conference focused on coordinating personnel, resources, and technical support for the GSF, which is intended to succeed the Multinational Security Support Mission. According to the statement, 18 entities pledged contributions, underscoring what the governments described as a “burden-sharing approach” designed to ensure the force has the training, tools, and compliance mechanisms required to meet its mandate.

“Haiti’s transitional government is taking significant measures to re-establish a democratic process,” the statement said, citing the adoption of an electoral decree that would allow Haitians to choose their leaders for the first time in nearly a decade.

Separately, officials and sources familiar with the discussions said the GSF appears poised to meet its target of deploying 5,500 personnel, following strong commitments—particularly from African and South Asian nations.

Chad offered to deploy 1,500 soldiers, according to two sources familiar with the talks who were not authorized to speak publicly. Additional commitments came from Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, and The Gambia in West Africa, as well as Burundi in East-Central Africa.

Kenya, which currently has about 700 police officers deployed in Haiti, was also represented at the conference. South Asian nations Bangladesh and Sri Lanka stepped forward as well. Sri Lanka offered to send a combat unit, while Bangladesh said its pledge of 1,500 personnel would include support for securing Haiti’s land and sea borders. Both countries previously contributed troops to the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti between 2004 and 2017.

In a press statement issued Wednesday, the office of Haiti’s Prime Minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, said the conference united partner countries around a shared objective: delivering a “decisive, robust response” to gang violence threatening Haiti’s sovereignty and future.

“Participants unanimously reaffirmed that the mission remains essential to restore the legitimate authority of the State, secure the territory and create the necessary conditions for a sustainable return to constitutional order,” the statement said.

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The Prime Minister’s office added that the international engagement—coordinated by the United States and Canada—reflects global recognition of “the urgency and existential nature of the Haitian security crisis” and confidence in the government’s security roadmap.

The US and Canada also thanked countries that contributed personnel to the previous Multinational Security Support Mission, reaffirming their commitment to work alongside Haiti and international partners to protect civilians, improve security conditions, and support a safer and more prosperous future for the country.