The United Nations allows it to be the largest “gangs’ force” Haiti to reduce violence – national

On Tuesday, the United Nations Security Council voted for an international force greater than 5,550 members to help stop gang violence in Haiti.

The US -sponsored resolution and Panama of the current Kenya’s multinational power will turn into the “gang suppression power” with the ability to detain suspect gang members, which are not owned by the current force.

The vote was 12-0 with Russia, China and Pakistan to refrain from adhering.

The first Kenyans arrived in Haiti in June 2024, and the force was supposed to have 2,500 soldiers, but it was invented with a lack of financing and its current strength is less than 1000.

Gangs have grown in power since the assassination of President JOVENEL MOïSE in 2021. They now control 90 % of the capital, Port-Eu-PRINCE, and have sought their activities, including looting, kidnapping, sexual assaults and rape, in the countryside. Haiti has not had a president since the assassination.

The seven -page draft resolution expresses his appreciation of Kenya to lead the multinational strength, but it reaffirms Secretary -General Antonio Guterres in February that he was unable to keep pace with the dramatic expansion of gangs and need to expand its scope.

The resolution of the United Nations member states declares the move to the power of gangs in cooperation with the Haiti government for a preliminary period of 12 months.

It states that the force will consist of 5,500 unified individuals and 50 civilians will be paid from voluntary contributions.

Canada announced last week that it would contribute 60 million dollars Towards the efforts to suppress gangs in Haiti, with most of the United Nations financing approval of the American plan.

Mark Richardson, Director General of World Affairs in Canada in the Caribbean region, said the House of Foreign Affairs Committee that the House of Commons said that it was “very early” to hold talks on whether Canadian forces will be part of the new United Nations mission.

Laurent Saint Cyr, leader of the Transitional Presidential Council in Haiti, chanted the vote on Tuesday.

“This vote represents a decisive turning point in combating armed criminal groups that cause sadness to our families, paralyze our economy and threaten the future of our nation,” he said.

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St. Cyr said he was grateful to the members of the Council who supported the decision and thanked the United States and Panama for the leadership of the initiative.

The American embassy in Haiti said it welcomed the newly approved decision.

“The work has not ended, but this is a positive step towards restoring the basic security in Haiti.” “The message from the UNTC is clear: the era of impunity has ended to those who seek to destabilize Haiti.”

The Haiti Prime Minister Alex Didier Fils Amy said it has supported the decision to convert the current task into the so -called “gang suppression force”.

He said: “In the context of armed violence that threatens peace and stability in the country, this new force sends a strong reference: Haiti is not alone.” “Along with our partners, we are determined to break the grip of gangs, restore the authority of the state, secure our citizens, and create conditions for free, fair and transparent elections.”

The decision declares the new force for an independent procedure or with the Hayitic National Police, “the targeted operations led by the intelligence, and anti -gangs to neutralize, isolated, deterred gangs that continue to threaten the civilian population, abuse human rights and undermine the Haiite institutions.”

The new force will also provide security for critical infrastructure, including airport, ports, schools and hospitals, as well as the Haiti police and the armed forces. Hayette efforts will be supported “to combat illegal trafficking and transfer weapons and relevant materials.”

The Security Council’s mandate for the Kenya multinational force ends on October 2.

– With the files from the Canadian press

And copied 2025 Canadian press