04/27/2026
United States and UN Security Council Reaffirm Steadfast Support for Haiti; Highlight Rapid Deployment of the Gang Suppression Force
Ambassador Lee Rizzuto, U.S. Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS), attended a United Nations Security Council meeting on April 23, 2026, concerning the ongoing multifaceted crisis in Haiti. During the session, the United States and member states of the Security Council unequivocally reaffirmed their enduring support for the Haitian people and the stabilization of the country.
The meeting underscored the international community’s commitment to addressing the severe security challenges posed by terrorist gangs, which continue to perpetrate violence, r**e, and murder against the Haitian population. To combat this crisis and destabilization in the Western Hemisphere, the Council discussed the rapid implementation of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF).
UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) Special Representative of the Secretary-General Carlos Ruiz Massieu underscored the grave importance of the international community continuing its robust support for the people of Haiti, emphasizing that sustained global partnership is essential to overcoming the country’s current challenges.
A key highlight of the meeting was the attendance of GSF Special Representative Jack Christofides, whose appointment resulted from a unanimous OAS Joint Statement in support of UN Security Council Resolution 2793, which authorized the GSF. https://usoas.usmission.gov/joint-statement-call-for-coordinated-un-action-in-support-of-the-oas-haiti-roadmap/
Special Representative Christofides and his initial staff are already on the ground in Port-au-Prince, launching critical leadership, oversight, and civilian support functions. The GSF, operating under a clear command structure to neutralize, isolate, and deter gangs, is authorized to reach a full force of 5,500 military and police personnel.
The United States highlighted several critical milestones, including the establishment of the UN Support Office in Haiti, the arrival of the GSF Special Representative and the arrival of the first troop contingents. We call on the international community to help us win peace for the long haul – injecting sorely needed investments through capital, infrastructure, and job creation to keep impoverished next-generation leaders from returning to the deadly path of gang violence. A full transcript of the remarks can be found here: https://usun.usmission.gov/remarks-at-a-un-security-council-briefing-on-the-situation-in-haiti/
Addressing the UN Security Council, Prime Minister of Haiti Fils-Aimé emphasized the importance of this ongoing global partnership, while outlining measures Haiti is undertaking to increase and strengthen its own security and police forces. In his speech, he shared a powerful message of gratitude, stating, "Your commitment to peace remains a source of hope to the people of Haiti."
The GSF is designed to work in support of – not in place of – Haitian institutions. It is designed to create space for Haitian forces to expand, professionalize, and ultimately assume responsibility. That transition has begun.
