Haiti Backs U.S.-Supported Plan to Expand Security Mission Against Gangs

Haiti has welcomed a new U.S.-backed proposal to strengthen the international security mission operating in the country, signaling possible changes in leadership and troop numbers.

The plan, currently under review at the United Nations, seeks to expand the force to more than 5,000 personnel and shift command from Kenya to another partner nation. Haitian leaders say this move could be the turning point in restoring peace to a country where armed gangs have tightened their grip on daily life.
Prime Minister Alix Dider Fils-Aimé’s office described the proposal as “a decisive step” to protect citizens and re-establish government control. Officials stressed that the mission is about more than local stability, arguing it also carries regional importance for the wider Caribbean.

Kenya has led the mission since late 2023, deploying hundreds of police officers to Port-au-Prince. But despite their presence, gangs have continued to wreak havoc, forcing businesses to close, blocking key roads, and leaving many residents living in fear. Critics say limited troop numbers, logistical hurdles, and poor coordination have hampered progress.

The debate intensified after U.S. President Donald Trump called on Kenya to pull out, insisting the country should not carry the burden of Haiti’s internal struggles. His comments drew mixed reactions, with some Haitians welcoming the idea of new leadership while others praised Kenya’s willingness to step in when few others did.

For the Haitian government, the priority is clear—results. Officials say an expanded and better-resourced force will be vital to neutralizing gangs, rebuilding public trust, and reopening schools, hospitals, and transport routes that have long been paralyzed by violence.

Diplomatic sources say several Caribbean and Latin American countries are being considered to take over leadership if Kenya steps aside. The U.N. Security Council is expected to deliberate on the proposal in the coming weeks, in what could mark a new chapter for Haiti’s fight against insecurity.

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