The United Nations Security Council has taken a significant step towards addressing the escalating gang violence in Haiti by requesting Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to present a report outlining potential solutions within the next month. These options include the possibility of deploying a UN peacekeeping force or a multinational force.

The council unanimously approved a resolution not only requesting the report but also authorizing the deployment of up to 70 UN police and corrections advisors to bolster the training and support provided to Haiti's under-resourced national police force. Furthermore, the resolution encourages nations, particularly those in the Caribbean, to respond to pleas from Haiti's Prime Minister Ariel Henry and Guterres for the deployment of a specialized international force.

Prime Minister Henry initially called for the immediate deployment of such a force back in October 2022 to combat the rampant gang activity. However, despite the urgency of the situation, no country has yet volunteered to lead this initiative.

During a recent visit to Haiti, Guterres emphasized the need for a robust international force to assist the Haitian National Police in dismantling and defeating the gangs. He supported the assessment by the UN independent expert for Haiti, William O'Neill, that an additional 2,000 anti-gang police officers are necessary. O'Neill, an American lawyer with over three decades of experience working in Haiti, recently completed a 10-day trip to the country.

The gangs' influence has surged dramatically since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021. Current estimates suggest they control as much as 80% of the capital, Port-au-Prince. This has resulted in a sharp increase in killings, rapes, and kidnappings, even sparking a violent backlash from civilian vigilante groups.

Adding to the complexity of the situation is Haiti's ongoing political crisis. The country is devoid of all democratically elected institutions following the expiration of the terms of its remaining senators in early January.

The resolution, co-sponsored by the United States and Ecuador, strongly urges all nations to implement a ban on the supply, sale, or transfer of weapons to any individuals or groups supporting gang violence and criminal activity. It also reiterates the importance of a Haitian-led political process, supported by the UN political mission in Haiti (BINUH), to facilitate the organization of free, fair, and credible legislative and presidential elections.