Chad to send 1500 troops to Haiti as UN-backed security mission expands
The Republic of Chad is set to dispatch a contingent of 1,500 soldiers to Haiti, joining the United Nations-backed security force tasked with combating gang violence in the Caribbean nation. This announcement was made via a letter sent by the Chadian president to the national parliament.
During a session held on Monday, the Chadian head of state, Mahamat Déby Itno, confirmed that two battalions – each comprising 750 troops – will be deployed starting this month. The mission, requested by the UN, is scheduled to last for one year.
«A first group of 400 personnel has already been sent to Haiti as part of this initiative, which reflects the commitment and professionalism of Chad’s defense and security forces,» stated the president.
The United Nations Security Council last year sanctioned an expansion of the multinational force led by Kenya in Haiti, now known as the Gang Suppression Force. The troop count has increased to 5,500, and its mandate has been broadened to include the arrest of suspected gang members—a power the initial force lacked.
The earlier mission, launched in 2023 with an expected deployment of 2,500 personnel under Kenyan police leadership, faced significant setbacks due to insufficient funding and staffing shortages.
Gang violence has crippled Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, with armed groups controlling up to 90% of the city and large rural areas. The security crisis escalated in 2021 when armed assailants assassinated former President Jovenel Moïse in his private residence.
Recent attacks have further destabilized the region. According to human rights organizations, at least 30 individuals lost their lives, and many more remain missing following a violent assault by the Gran Grif gang in Petite-Rivière de l’Artibonite last month.
