HAMILTON, Canada

The UN Security Council on Tuesday approved a draft resolution authorizing the transition of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti to a Gang Suppression Force (GSF) for 12 months.

The resolution, penned by Panama and the US, demands that the secretary-general establish a UN Support Office in Haiti (UNSOH).

The Council vote saw 12 in favor and three abstentions from Russia, China, and Pakistan.

"The resolution that we are considering today has the support of the entire continent of Haiti itself, of Kenya, as well as many other nations who, in a spirit of solidarity, have decided to join in this effort," Panamanian UN envoy Eloy Alfaro de Alba said before the vote.

Asking all Council members to support the resolution, he argued that it would "send a clear message to Haiti."

The MSS mission in Haiti, established to support efforts to stabilize the country, was created in 2023 in response to a call by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Led by Kenya, it began operations June 25, 2024, to support Haiti's security and assist the Haitian National Police.

Its mandate expires Oct. 2.

US envoy to the UN, Mike Waltz, welcomed the adoption of the resolution.

"The adoption of this resolution offers Haiti hope. It is a hope that has been rapidly slipping away as terrorist gangs expanded their territory, raped, pillaged, murdered and terrorized the Haitian population," he said. "We are grateful to Kenya, in particular, for its leadership in stepping up to serve as the lead nation of the multinational support mission, and to all those who contributed personnel to the mission, including El Salvador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Belize and the Bahamas.”

He argued that adoption of the resolution "is a recognition that, due to the lack of true burden sharing, the international community had failed to deliver a mission that was fit for purpose."

"Today, this council took an important step in reaffirming its commitment to the founding purposes and principles of the UN Charter," Waltz said.

Haiti has been struggling with gang violence and political instability for years. The country saw an escalation of violence following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise three years ago.

Rival armed groups took control of Port-au-Prince earlier this year, forcing Prime Minister Ariel Henry to resign. Armed gangs are said to control an estimated 80% of the capital.

According to the UN, more than 1,379 people were killed or injured in Haiti, and 428 kidnapped from April to June.

Around 5.5 million people need immediate humanitarian assistance amid a complex humanitarian crisis exacerbated by civil unrest, disease, economic instability and insecurity.