OAS member states call for renewal of gang suppression force mandate in Haiti

WASHINGTON, United States (CMC)—Thirty-two active member states of the Organization of American States (OAS) have issued a joint statement calling for the United Nations Security Council to renew the mandate of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) in Haiti. They are also urging the international community to provide the personnel, funding, equipment and logistical support required for its full and sustained deployment. The member states reaffirmed their solidarity with the Haitian people and their respect for Haiti’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, while stressing their commitment to Haitian-led solutions to the country’s security and political challenges. They also called for the implementation of OAS General Assembly Resolution AG/RES 3051 (LVI-O/26), adopted on June 23, 2026. The resolution provides for OAS support to Haiti while emphasising that assistance should remain Haitian-led and coordinated with the United Nations, the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and other international partners. The countries endorsing the statement are Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. OAS Secretary General Albert R. Ramdin voiced support for the statement, saying continued backing for the GSF and renewal of its mandate are necessary to help Haitian authorities regain territorial control, restore access to critical infrastructure, improve public safety and create conditions for institutions to function and elections to take place. “We must honour the aspirations of the Haitian people by continuing to support the GSF and the renewal of its mandate,” Ramdin said. “But support for renewal is not enough. A mandate, by itself, does not produce results. We must also ensure that the results Haitians need in terms of security are properly sourced. Results require personnel, financing, equipment, logistics and, of course, sustained political support,” he added. The joint statement follows a high-level mission to Haiti led by Ramdin from August 16 to 19. In a subsequent report to the OAS Permanent Council, he identified security and elections as urgent and closely interconnected priorities. Haiti’s Permanent Representative to the OAS, Jean Josué Pierre, said the declaration sends a clear message about the need to renew the GSF mandate, ensure its full deployment and strengthen Haiti’s security institutions. “The message of this declaration is clear: renew the mandate of the Gang Suppression Force, ensure its full deployment, strengthen Haiti’s security institutions, protect the population, and create the conditions for Haiti to advance toward credible elections and lasting stability,” Pierre said. The Chair of the OAS Permanent Council and Dominica’s Permanent Representative to the organization, Steve Ferrol, said the joint declaration demonstrates that regional support for Haiti extends beyond political differences. “By speaking together, we as OAS member states are demonstrating that support for Haiti transcends political differences and reflects a common commitment to peace, democracy, human rights, and human dignity for Haiti, and for the region as a whole,” Ferrol said. The statement says the GSF must be adequately equipped to support the Haitian National Police and the Armed Forces of Haiti, in accordance with their respective mandates. Among the identified priorities are restoring lawful state authority in areas affected by gang control, securing access to the airport and port, reopening key transportation routes, protecting civilians and maintaining a permanent Haitian National Police presence at strategic infrastructure and in areas recovered from gangs. The member states also called for disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration efforts, along with measures to restore humanitarian access and public services and expand socioeconomic opportunities, particularly for young Haitians. They stressed that operations conducted by the GSF and the Haitian security institutions it supports must comply with international law and applicable international human rights standards. The statement also calls for stronger national, regional and international measures to prevent the illicit trafficking of arms and ammunition into Haiti, disrupt the financial and supply networks supporting armed gangs, and hold accountable individuals and entities that finance or otherwise provide material support to gang activity. On the restoration of democratic and constitutional order, the member states said preparations for elections should continue as security conditions improve. They encouraged international support for civil identification, voter registration and electoral logistics, as well as for the deployment of an OAS Electoral Observation Mission. The statement further calls for close coordination among Haiti, the OAS, the United Nations, Caricom and other partners. The Haitian-Led Roadmap for Stability and Peace, facilitated by Ramdin, is identified as a framework for aligning international assistance with priorities established by Haitian authorities and national stakeholders and for monitoring the implementation of commitments. The member states said sustained international support remains necessary to address Haiti’s security crisis while creating conditions for the restoration of public services, democratic institutions and long-term stability.