Jack Christofides (C), special representative for the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) in Haiti speaks at a Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, April 23, 2026. Christofides said Thursday that the force is in an early phase of establishment. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)
UNITED NATIONS, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Jack Christofides, special representative for the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) in Haiti, said Thursday that the force is in an early phase of establishment.
"We are at a critical early phase of establishing the GSF," Christofides told the Security Council in a briefing on the situation in Haiti. "The GSF is being built as a disciplined, accountable, and partnership-driven mission, designed to deliver targeted security results while upholding the highest standards of conduct and full respect for Haitian sovereignty."
A deployment plan has been developed in consultation with the Haitian authorities, focused on priority areas and leveraging the specialized capabilities of contributing forces, he said. "The objective is clear: to degrade the operational capacity of gangs to a level that Haitian institutions can sustainably manage, thereby creating the time and space necessary for the state to reassert its authority."
In parallel, efforts are being made to advance civilian deployment and establish the core structures necessary to support intelligence-led mission planning, coordination and oversight. The concept of operations has been finalized, and pre-deployment and induction training are being prioritized, said Christofides.
Efforts continue to broaden participation and ensure that the mission is equipped with the capabilities required to fulfill its mandate. Maritime and border dimensions for the mission will be particularly important, including support for Haiti's capacity to manage its ports and commercial entry points, he added.
"Civilian protection, the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and adherence to international human rights law are central to our planning and operations. Clear guidance, training, and oversight mechanisms are being put in place to ensure that all personnel operate in accordance with the highest standards of conduct and accountability," said Christofides.
"We are working closely with the Haitian authorities to ensure that arrangements related to detention and the treatment of individuals are consistent with legal standards and operational realities," he said, adding that particular attention is being given to the capacity of national institutions, so that apprehensions can be effectively sustained through a judicial process.
"The GSF is designed not as an end in itself, but as a means to enable Haitian institutions to regain control and to create the conditions for longer-term stability," Christofides said.
The Security Council in September 2025 adopted a resolution to transition the Multinational Security Support mission in Haiti to the GSF.
The resolution authorizes the GSF to adopt urgent temporary measures on an exceptional basis to assist the Haitian National Police in maintaining basic law and order and public safety, including through arrest and detention. ■
The Security Council holds a meeting on the situation in Haiti, at the UN headquarters in New York, April 23, 2026. Jack Christofides, special representative for the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) in Haiti, said Thursday that the force is in an early phase of establishment. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)
