New Mandate Gives Kenyan-Led Force Teeth to Confront Worsening Gang Violence
October 5, 2025:
Kenya has scored a major diplomatic win after the United Nations Security Council approved an expanded and more powerful international mission to restore order in Haiti, solidifying Nairobi’s leadership on the global stage.
The new operation, officially titled the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), replaces the existing Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission led by Kenya. It comes with a stronger mandate, increased personnel, and broader powers to combat criminal gangs that have plunged the Caribbean nation into chaos.
Under UN Resolution 2793 (2025), the GSF will deploy up to 5,550 uniformed officers—including police and military personnel—alongside 50 civilian staff for a 12-month period. The new mandate allows the force to arrest gang leaders, reclaim key territories, and support Haiti’s fragile police and government institutions
Kenya, which has already deployed hundreds of officers to Haiti under the MSS mission, led international lobbying for a stronger and better-resourced force.
Behind the scenes, Kenya’s intelligence chief Noordin Haji played a pivotal role in securing international backing by sharing detailed intelligence assessments on Haiti’s gang networks, arms flows, and casualty figures with foreign counterparts.
The classified data helped convince initially reluctant governments that Haiti required not just symbolic peacekeepers, but a robust and capable enforcement force.
Equally instrumental was the National Security Advisor’s office, led by Amb. Monica Juma, which coordinated high-level diplomacy behind the scenes. Drawing on her vast networks within the United Nations and the U.S. State Department, Juma facilitated crucial side meetings and built consensus that ultimately paved the way for the expanded mission’s approval.
Welcoming the UN’s decision, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Dr. Korir Sing’oei hailed it as a major step toward sustainable peace in Haiti.
“This resolution marks a turning point not just for Haiti, but for how the world responds to complex security crises, Kenya’s leadership demonstrates that global peacekeeping can be both courageous and collaborative,” Dr. Sing’oei said.
The United States co-sponsored the new resolution, pledging additional logistical and financial support, while other nations including Benin, The Bahamas, and Jamaica have signaled readiness to contribute personnel.
The initial MSS mission struggled to reach its target of 2,500 personnel due to slow international financing. Nairobi also faced domestic criticism over the deployment’s cost and legality.
The expanded UN-backed mission will now have clearer funding mechanisms and international oversight, ensuring better protection for troops and accountability.
Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, remains largely under gang control, with reports indicating that more than 80% of the city is dominated by armed groups. The expanded GSF is expected to focus first on securing critical infrastructure, including ports, airports, and key government facilities, before moving into community stabilization.
While the mission has been welcomed cautiously by Haitians, human-rights observers have urged strict adherence to international law to avoid civilian casualties.
For Kenya, the development reinforces its position as a leading voice in international peace operations. The country currently contributes troops and police to several UN missions in Africa and now stands as the first African nation to lead a UN-mandated mission outside the continent.
The new GSF will begin deploying in phases over the coming weeks, with Kenya expected to maintain command leadership.
Its success will depend on the speed of international funding, troop deployment, and coordination with local Haitian authorities.
