UN Criticizes Haiti's Lack of Political Transition Progress

UN Criticizes Haiti's Lack of Political Transition Progress

The United Nations Security Council has criticized Haitian authorities for the lack of progress in achieving a political transition and called for urgent security sector reforms to address increasing violence from gangs and criminal groups. The council condemned the surge in violence in Haiti, highlighting human rights violations and abuses, including sexual violence against women, men, and children as well as human trafficking, migrant smuggling, killings, and the abduction of children by armed gangs.

The resolution, co-sponsored by the United States and Panama, extends the U.N.'s political mission in Haiti until January 31, 2027. Gangs have grown powerful since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, controlling 90% of Port-au-Prince and expanding their activities into the countryside. Since the assassination, Haiti has had no president, and a transitional council has been one of the country's top authorities since April 2024.

The transitional council was established after gangs forced the closure of Haiti’s main international airport and targeted key state infrastructure, leading to the resignation of former Prime Minister Ariel Henry. The council is tasked with selecting prime ministers to bring stability to the country, but there have been three since its establishment. There are growing pressures for the unelected body to move toward elections for the first time in a decade.

Last week, the U.S. warned the transitional council against making changes to the government, as pressure has mounted for the unelected body to move toward elections for the first time in a decade. The Security Council authorized a gang suppression force on Sept. 30, replacing an understaffed and underfunded Kenyan-led mission led by police officers from Kenya.

U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz said at the time that the force 'offers Haiti hope,' but there is no timeline yet for deployment of its 5,500 members. The resolution revises the mandate of the U.N.'s political mission to focus on facilitating a national dialogue and supporting efforts to hold municipal, parliamentary, and presidential elections. It also calls for close cooperation with the gang suppression force and assistance in designing a disarmament and reintegration program for people formerly associated with gangs, particularly children.