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UNITED NATIONS (Haiti Wire) – The United Nations Security Council has extended the mandate of the Multinational Security Mission (MMS) in Haiti for another year, following unanimous approval on Monday. The mission, aimed at supporting Haiti’s police forces, will now continue until October 2025, but Haitian officials argue that more robust international intervention is urgently needed to combat the escalating gang violence and insecurity crippling the country.
Haiti’s ambassador to the UN, Antonio Rodrigue, voiced concern that while the MMS extension is welcome, the mission’s current structure and limited resources are insufficient to address the scale of the crisis. Rodrigue advocated for transforming the MMS into a full UN peacekeeping operation, citing the dire situation on the ground.
“The violence of gangs is eroding the social fabric, human rights abuses are on the rise, and insecurity is paralyzing our economy and institutions,” Rodrigue told the Security Council. He stressed that the MMS, which relies on voluntary donations from member states, has not received the level of funding or material support required for meaningful impact. To date, the United States has been the primary financial backer, with other countries contributing minimally.
Despite Haiti’s calls for an expanded peacekeeping mission, the proposal has met resistance within the Security Council. Russia and China, both key members, remain opposed to deploying UN peacekeepers to Haiti, pointing to the controversial legacy of the previous UN mission, MINUSTAH. That mission, which ended in 2017, was mired in scandals, including allegations of sexual abuse and the introduction of a cholera outbreak that caused thousands of deaths.
While the United States has expressed support for ramping up international efforts to stabilize Haiti, Russia and China have made it clear that they do not favor sending another UN peacekeeping force, given the fraught history of such operations in the Caribbean nation.
The MMS, unlike a traditional peacekeeping mission, is designed as a support initiative for the Haitian police, not a direct military or policing force. Rodrigue highlighted that this limitation, combined with a lack of adequate funding, has allowed gang violence to continue unchecked. Human rights organizations have repeatedly raised alarms about the deteriorating security situation, as armed groups gain more control over parts of the country.
Haiti has faced mounting challenges in recent years, with gang-related violence, kidnappings, and political instability severely affecting daily life. The government and international organizations have struggled to find a long-term solution to the insecurity, with the MMS seen as a temporary measure.
With the Security Council’s decision to renew the mission, Haiti remains at a crossroads. As the debate over more substantial international intervention continues, the country faces an uphill battle to regain stability. Rodrigue’s calls for urgent action underscore the severity of the situation, but the road to consensus within the international community remains uncertain.
