The OAS formally requests to extend the mandate of the security mission in Haiti
In a display of regional unity, the 32 member states of the Organization of American States (OAS) have made an urgent appeal to the United Nations Security Council. The central objective is to achieve the renewal of the mandate of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) operating in Haiti, underscoring the critical need to provide this mission with the financial, logistical, and human resources indispensable for its operation.
Through a joint statement, the hemispheric body emphasized that, while the solution to the crisis must be led by the Haitians themselves, the support of the international community is a fundamental pillar for recovering the stability and sovereignty of the Caribbean country.
Strategic priorities for Haitian security
The OAS has outlined a series of priority objectives for the mission in Haiti to achieve tangible results. Among the key points are:
- The operational strengthening of the Haitian National Police and Armed Forces.
- The recovery of strategic areas currently under the control of criminal groups.
- Ensuring free movement and access to critical infrastructure, such as airports, ports, and main roads.
- The frontal combat against illicit arms trafficking and the dismantling of the financial networks that sustain the gangs.
The renewal of the force’s mandate must be accompanied by sufficient resources to ensure that it can carry out its operations effectively and sustainably over time.
OAS General Secretariat
Security as a foundation for democracy
For the member states, the pacification of the territory is not an end in itself, but an indispensable requirement for the democratic future of the nation. The declaration underscores that the improvement in security conditions is the necessary preliminary step to organize transparent electoral processes, which includes the modernization of the civil registry and the logistics necessary for suffrage.
Finally, the organization reiterated its commitment to maintaining close coordination with the Haitian authorities, the UN, and other international partners such as Caricom, in order to ensure that external support translates into a real improvement in the quality of life of citizens and the strengthening of State institutions.
