The United Nations Security Council has greenlit a significant expansion of international security forces in Haiti to address the escalating gang violence that has ravaged the Caribbean nation. The newly established ‘Gang Suppression Force’ (GSF) will comprise up to 5,550 police and military personnel, equipped with the authority to detain suspected gang members. This move aims to bolster the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support mission (MSS), which, despite its initial mandate for 2,500 members, has struggled with insufficient numbers and resources since its deployment in 2023. The MSS has been largely ineffective in curbing the violence, which claimed over 5,500 lives in 2024 alone. Armed gangs now control approximately 85% of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, exacerbating the country’s ongoing economic and political crises following the assassination of its president in 2021. The UN Security Council adopted a US-proposed resolution on Tuesday to establish the GSF, which will collaborate with Haitian authorities to enhance security and facilitate humanitarian access. The current MSS force, numbering fewer than 1,000 officers, has been overwhelmed by the well-armed gangs. US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz emphasized that the expanded mission, five times the size of its predecessor, is crucial to restoring stability. The resolution also includes the creation of a UN support office in Haiti to provide logistical and operational assistance. Haiti’s UN representative, Ericq Pierre, hailed the decision as a pivotal moment in the nation’s struggle against one of its most severe challenges. The GSF’s deployment timeline and contributing countries remain unclear, but the move comes as nearly 1.3 million Haitians have been internally displaced due to rampant violence. Gangs continue to expand their territories, committing human rights violations such as child exploitation, murder, and trafficking.