The United States government, through the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), recently delivered 20 new armoured vehicles to Haiti.

This delivery is intended to bolster the capabilities of the newly authorized Gang Suppression Force (GSF) and the Haitian National Police (HNP) in their fight against the deadly and well-equipped gangs terrorizing the nation.

The move comes shortly after Kenyan President William Ruto publicly voiced his concerns regarding the safety and operational capacity of the Kenyan contingent who now form part of the GSF due to inadequate logistical support.

Speaking at a high-level meeting during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 22, President Ruto highlighted the dangers faced by Kenyan police officers who had been forced to rely on what he termed “dilapidated second-hand vehicles.”

President Ruto stated: “It was expected that there would be force multipliers such as the armoured personnel carriers and logistical support to make the mission successful.”

“The United States did provide vehicles, but unfortunately, most of them were second-hand. They broke down, often in dangerous places.” he added.

He emphasized that his comments were aimed at underscoring the critical need for better resourcing to ensure the success of the mission, rather than discouraging international partners like the US.

The new armoured vehicles are a significant upgrade for the troops. According to the US government, the vehicles will directly strengthen the capacity of the forces to counter the gangs.

The new Gang Suppression Force (GSF) is a much larger and more robust multinational security mission that officially replaced the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission on September 30, following a UN Security Council resolution.

While the MSS struggled with chronic underfunding and insufficient personnel, the GSF has an initial mandate of 12 months, a planned strength of 5,550 personnel, and a broader, more offensive mandate to neutralize gangs directly.

Despite the transition, the Kenyan contingent remains a core component of the GSF, making the arrival of new, reliable armoured vehicles a major and long-awaited boost for the officers on the ground.

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