January 8, 2025
On Friday, January 3, 2025, a U.S. military aircraft landed at Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince, carrying 75 Guatemalan soldiers and 8 Salvadoran military personnel. This deployment is part of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti, led by Kenya, and aims to bolster efforts against armed gangs that have terrorized the Haitian population for months.
The Salvadoran soldiers, specializing in medical evacuations, are tasked with preparing for the arrival of additional contingents in the coming days. According to Lionel Lazarre, Deputy Spokesperson for the Haitian National Police (HNP), another flight is scheduled for January 4, marking a new phase in strengthening the international forces on the ground.
This initiative comes as gang violence reaches alarming levels. In 2024, over 5,000 people were killed in gang-related clashes, and nearly 85% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, is under gang control. Massive population displacement and acute food insecurity are worsening an already critical humanitarian crisis.
The MSS mission, whose mandate has been extended until October 2025 by the UN Security Council, aims to stabilize the country and create conditions for free and fair elections. However, despite the arrival of the first Kenyan contingents in June 2024, the security situation remains dire. To date, only 400 officers out of the planned 2,500 have been deployed, and financial and logistical resources remain insufficient.
The commitments from Guatemala and El Salvador reflect increased regional cooperation to support Haiti. El Salvador, known for its successes in combating gangs, brings expertise in medical evacuations, while Guatemala contributes additional soldiers. These efforts complement those of Kenya, Jamaica, and other countries such as Benin and Chad, which have pledged to send reinforcements.
Despite these developments, significant challenges remain. The proposal to transform the MSS mission into a UN peacekeeping mission, supported by some members of the Security Council, continues to divide major powers. China and Russia oppose the idea, while the United States and other nations advocate for a stronger intervention. In the meantime, the Haitian population continues to endure the effects of a multidimensional crisis, where security, governance, and development are deeply interconnected.