UN Secretary General Urges International Force to be Deployed to Caribbean Nation, Haitian Gangs 'Vow' to Fight If This Happens

On August 16, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for an “urgent” multinational force including police and military to combat armed gangs ravaging Haiti.

Tổng thư ký LHQ kêu gọi gửi lực lượng quốc tế đến Haiti, Băng đảng Haiti thề chiến đấu với lực lượng vũ trang nước ngoài nếu xảy ra hành vi lạm dụng

Haiti has been plagued by security instability in recent years, with domestic gangs terrorizing and robbing its citizens. (Source: AP)

In a 12-page letter sent to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on August 16, Secretary-General Guterres stressed the need to call on “member states to deploy a multinational force outside the UN, including special police forces and military support units.”

According to Guterres, resolving the security situation in Haiti requires a series of coercive law enforcement measures, including the active use of force in special police operations against powerful armed groups.

Previously, the UN Secretary-General and Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry had repeatedly called for international intervention to support local police forces, given that armed gangs controlled 80% of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Notably, these gangs terrorized the population with kidnappings, armed robberies, and rapes.

In late July, Kenya affirmed its readiness to assume a leadership role in this multinational force, deploying 1,000 police officers to help train and support Haitian police in restoring normalcy in the country, as well as protecting strategic facilities.

However, this proposal still needs to be approved by the Security Council, even though this international armed force would not be under the auspices of the UN.

On the same day, August 16th, Jimmy Chérizier, the leader of Haiti's most powerful gang, warned that his group would retaliate against any international armed forces sent to the Caribbean nation if they engaged in any abusive behavior.

Jimmy Chérizier asserted that he would welcome foreign forces if they helped Haitian gangs capture Prime Minister Ariel Henry and other corrupt politicians and police officers – who are accused of selling ammunition and weapons in Haiti's impoverished neighborhoods.

However, this powerful gang leader also stated that the Haitian people would revolt if any international force repeated the actions of previous UN peacekeeping missions in Haiti. According to leader Jimmy Chérizier, the people of Haiti would “fight to the last breath to defend their dignity.”

Shortly afterward, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric announced that the organization had no comment on the above information.

The Chérizier cartel leader has been accused by the Haitian authorities of masterminding several massacres in recent years. In particular, the blockade of fuel depots in 2022 paralyzed the Caribbean nation for nearly two months.

Jimmy Chérizier is the only Haitian to face UN sanctions, after the Security Council confirmed charges of “engaging in acts that threaten the peace, security and stability of Haiti, and planning, directing or carrying out acts that constitute grave human rights violations.”

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