Haiti urges UN to renew anti-gang force mandate ahead of planned election | WTVB | 1590 AM · 95.5 FM

By Sarah Morland

Sept 3 (Reuters) – Haiti’s foreign minister urged the U.N. Security Council on Thursday to renew the mandate of an international force supporting the country’s police, saying stronger ​backing is needed if Haiti is to hold its first ‌election in a decade amid widespread gang violence.

• Speaking at a meeting of the Organization of American States, Foreign Minister Raina Forbin called for the force to deploy fully as soon as possible and for the Security Council to ‌extend ​its 12-month mandate before it expires this ⁠month.

• “We need technical, financial, logistical ⁠and safety support that is up to the challenge,” Forbin said, referring to Haiti’s plan to hold elections on December 13. “We must now move from solidarity to action.”

• OAS Secretary-General Albert Ramdin ​said talks with Haiti’s provisional electoral council showed an urgent need for more support. About 1 million national identity cards still ⁠must be produced and distributed before voting ⁠can take place, he said.

• Ramdin said the ​OAS would deploy an Electoral Observation Mission at Haiti’s request and already ​had personnel in the country to help support a credible ‌vote.

• Haiti’s electoral council has extended deadlines for some pre-election steps and plans to publish its list of candidates on October 14.

• Haiti has not held elections since 2016, as successive governments repeatedly postponed ⁠a vote while armed gangs expanded their control and later united in a broad alliance.

• The country first requested foreign military assistance in 2022. ⁠An initial U.N.-backed ‌force deployed in 2024 but struggled with limited ⁠resources, and its mostly Kenyan troops withdrew earlier this ​year.

• ‌A new U.N.-mandated mission, the Gang Suppression Force, ​was authorized ⁠a year ago. Justin Gorkowski, who co-leads a U.S. oversight team, said about 20% of the force is now deployed in Haiti.

• “The force is focusing its limited resources on priority areas,” Gorkowski said. “We’re building this mission from the ground up; it takes time.”

(Reporting by Sarah Morland; Editing ​by Kylie Madry)