PORT-AU-PRINCE — The new leader of the U.N.-backed multinational force, South African Jack Christofides, and an advance team of Chadian troops arrived in Haiti this week, marking the start of a broader international deployment to combat escalating gang violence.
The Gang Suppression Force (GSF) said in a statement on social media Wednesday that the initial contingent from Chad has landed in Port-au-Prince, signaling a transition from planning to on-the-ground operations under a mandate authorized by the U.N. Security Council in September 2025.
The deployment comes at the request of the Haitian government and follows months of preparation to expand international security support beyond the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, which is being phased out.
The arrival of Chadian troops coincides with the gradual withdrawal of Kenyan personnel, who led earlier international efforts to support Haiti’s security forces.
More than 500 Kenyan officers have returned home in phases between December 2025 and March 2026. Bahamian personnel have also recently departed, clearing the way for a restructured force with a broader mandate and expanded troop contributions.
Chad has pledged up to 800 soldiers for the new mission. A spokesperson for the GSF, contacted by The Haitian Times, did not specify how many personnel from the Central African country were in that advance team, nor did they provide any images of the deployment. According to the deployment schedule, however, about 50 troops are expected in early April, followed by 350 by the end of the month, with additional personnel arriving through June.
New leadership and expanded mandate
Also arriving in Port-au-Prince is Jack Christofides, the appointed special representative overseeing the mission on the ground. He is tasked with coordinating operations, overseeing accountability, engaging international donors and partners and reporting to the U.N. Security Council. Christofides is an experienced U.N. official from South Africa who has managed various peacekeeping missions across Africa.
The GSF will work alongside Haiti’s National Police and armed forces to conduct targeted operations against gangs, secure key infrastructure and protect civilians.
Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé welcomed the deployment, calling it a critical step in restoring security.
“In the long term, several thousand personnel will be deployed to sustainably strengthen the State’s response capacity,” he said. “The Government of Haiti expresses its gratitude for this decisive international support in the fight against insecurity.”
The United States Embassy in Haiti also expressed support, noting that the mission — backed by the United Nations Support Office in Haiti (UNSOH) — will help strengthen operational capacity and logistics.
“The GSF, with the support of the UNSOH, will strengthen efforts to combat terrorist gangs and help bring security and stability to the Haitian people,” the U.S. Embassy posted on X
Deployment amid worsening violence and a critical test ahead
The GSF is expected to grow to about 5,500 personnel from multiple regions, including Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, with deployments planned between April and October.
Officials say the force will rely on intelligence-led operations and will operate under human rights standards. Its arrival comes as gang violence continues to escalate across Haiti, particularly in areas outside the capital.
In the Artibonite department, one of the country’s most volatile regions, armed groups have intensified attacks on civilians. Between March 28 and 30, more than 70 people were killed in the locality of Jean-Denis, according to local organizations, with dozens more injured and thousands displaced.
The violence has been attributed to the Gran Grif gang, part of the broader Viv Ansanm coalition, which has expanded its influence beyond Port-au-Prince into key agricultural regions.
Haitian authorities say security forces have since launched operations to push back armed groups, though conditions remain fragile, and these armed gangs continued to sow their terror in the region as of Wednesday.
“The State is engaged in a process of regaining control,” the prime minister said. “The perpetrators of these acts will be actively pursued and tracked by law enforcement until they are neutralized.”
The deployment of the GSF represents a new phase in Haiti’s international security support efforts — one that Haitian officials hope will succeed where previous missions have struggled.
But with gangs controlling large areas, more than a million people displaced and state institutions under strain, the effectiveness of the new force will be closely watched in the coming months.
For many Haitians, the arrival of foreign troops offers cautious hope — but also raises familiar questions about whether this latest intervention can bring lasting stability.
The post Leader of UN-backed force and first Chadian troops arrive in Haiti as deployment begins appeared first on The Haitian Times.
