Trending Now - Un-backed Troops Arrive in Haiti to Tackle Gang Violence

WHO:

Al Jazeera - The Gang Suppression Force (GSF) is a new United Nations-backed force.

Al Jazeera - Jack Christofides is a UN official from South Africa and the Special Representative of the Gang Suppression Force.

ABC News World - The first foreign troops are from the African country of Chad.

WHAT:

Al Jazeera - The Gang Suppression Force has an initial mandate of 12 months to address gang violence in Haiti.

Al Jazeera - The GSF is expected to grow to 5,500 personnel.

Al Jazeera - The UN Security Council authorized the GSF in September 2025.

Al Jazeera - The GSF will be empowered to make arrests in Haiti, unlike the previous Kenyan-led mission.

Al Jazeera - As of January 2026, at least 16,000 people had been killed in gang violence since 2022.

Al Jazeera - From March 2025 through January 15, 2026, at least 5,519 gang-related deaths and 2,608 injuries were reported.

WHERE:

Al Jazeera - The troops arrived in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Al Jazeera - Approximately 90 percent of Port-au-Prince is under gang control.

WHEN:

Al Jazeera - The first group of Chadian forces arrived on March 31st, 2026.

Al Jazeera - The UN Security Council meeting that authorized the GSF took place in September 2025.

Al Jazeera - Haiti's last democratically elected senators saw their terms expire in 2023.

Al Jazeera - Haiti is scheduled to hold a first round of voting in August 2026.

WHY:

Al Jazeera - The GSF was proposed by the United States and Panama to “neutralise, isolate, and deter” Haiti’s gangs.

Al Jazeera - The previous Kenyan-led mission failed due to a lack of funding, manpower, and institutional support.

HOW:

Al Jazeera - The GSF will operate with a mandate that allows the use of force against individuals labeled as “gangs.”

(UPDATED April 2, 2026 11:15 UTC)

The Gang Suppression Force, a new United Nations-backed initiative, has officially begun its mission in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, with the first group of Chadian troops arriving on Tuesday. This force, which is expected to grow to 5,500 personnel, has a 12-month mandate to tackle rampant gang violence that has claimed at least 16,000 lives since 2022, with approximately 90 percent of the city currently under gang control. Unlike previous missions, the GSF is empowered to make arrests and will operate under a mandate that allows the use of force against those identified as gangs.