Anti-gang force in Haiti: mandate renewed, but only 1,600 troops deployed
The UN Security Council extended the mandate of Haiti's anti-gang force for six months, while its personnel remain well below the planned 5,500 troops.
Anti-gang force renewed for six months, far from full capacity
The UN Security Council voted on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, to extend the mandate of the anti-gang force (FRG) deployed in Haiti for six months, by 12 votes in favour and three abstentions — those of China, Russia and Pakistan. According to rfi.fr, this decision comes one year after the initial authorisation of the force by the United Nations, whilst its deployment remains very partial and insecurity remains high across the country.
Authorised in September 2025, the FRG began operations at the end of June in Port-au-Prince, following the departure of the previous mission led by Kenya in April. Its activities subsequently expanded to Artibonite, a region which the military and their equipment had to access by sea, with road routes from the capital remaining under the control of armed groups. The force is composed predominantly of Chadian soldiers, supplemented by contingents from Jamaica, Sri Lanka and Mongolia.
Insufficient numbers, objectives delayed
The complete deployment of the FRG, postponed several times, was initially announced for October, with a target of 5,500 troops — more than double the maximum personnel of the previous mission. This target is far from being reached. "So we are far from 5,500," acknowledges Sophie Rutenbar, an expert at the NGO Global Initiative, cited by rfi.fr. The force currently numbers just under 1,600 troops. "The objective is that the bulk of the troops be deployed in the field before the end of this year," she specifies, referring to three infantry divisions.
This deadline has particular strategic importance: Haiti's transitional authorities have set 13 December for the first round of presidential and legislative elections. The country has not elected a president for more than ten years. The United States is pushing in favour of holding the election, but questions remain unanswered: how can elections be held with such a high level of insecurity, and how can ballot access be guaranteed for residents of areas controlled by gangs?
Few major operations since June
On the ground, the operational record of the FRG remains limited since the start of its deployment. Its soldiers "have conducted patrols on foot and in armoured vehicles, either alone or with Haitian police and army," details Sophie Rutenbar. "They have also carried out targeted operations to empty weapons caches of armed groups, clear axes and checkpoints established by gangs."
Since June, these operations have resulted in the seizure of dozens of weapons and the deaths of six suspected gang members. Three of them were killed on 28 September in Gros-Morne, in Artibonite, where several residents were subsequently killed by armed groups after the FRG military withdrew. No major road axes have been retaken, and no significant gang leader has been neutralised. The FRG has not disclosed the number of arrests made.
Gangs adapt their strategy
Faced with increased international presence, the gangs appear to have revised their modus operandi. Rather than directly confronting a better-equipped force, they seem to be seeking to multiply their actions on multiple fronts to disperse deployed personnel. "We have seen in recent months the gangs extend their operations, with a fairly clear strategic objective on their part," analyses Sophie Rutenbar, "that of scattering the anti-gang force and attempting to make its task more difficult."
The expert warns that if this trend continues, a force of 5,500 troops could prove insufficient. "In that case, the force would need to adapt its objectives or increase its personnel," she emphasises.
The attack carried out at the end of August in Kenscoff, near Port-au-Prince, illustrates this dynamic: 47 people were killed and dozens of others were kidnapped by armed groups in an area where the FRG is not present and where the police were caught off guard.
Source: Google News HT — Port-au-Prince