Haiti issued a dire appeal for regional security assistance at a meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS) on Thursday, warning that the country is on the brink of being overtaken by powerful armed gangs.
The plea came as the United States signaled it would not continue funding a U.N.-backed security mission aimed at stabilizing the country.
Speaking at the OAS gathering, top Haitian officials, including Defense Minister Jean-Michel Moise, described a deteriorating situation in which gangs now control much of the capital Port-au-Prince, have expanded into central and agricultural regions, and have displaced over 1 million people. Moise blamed a “criminal economy” fueled by cocaine trafficking from Colombia and weapons smuggled from the United States, both by sea and across the land border with the Dominican Republic.
“This criminal economy fuels a local war machine,” Moise said. “Haiti is on the brink of being fully controlled by criminal gangs, and we cannot allow that to happen. We desperately need the help of the international community.”
Despite widespread international concern, U.S. officials indicated that Washington would scale back its support. Barbara Feinstein, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Caribbean Affairs, said the U.S. could no longer carry the financial burden of the mission alone.
“While we remain determined to assist the Haitian people achieve the peace, security, and prosperity they deserve, the United States cannot continue shouldering such a significant financial burden,” Feinstein told the meeting.
Earlier this week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested that the OAS should assume a larger role in coordinating regional security support, including the possible mobilization of a multinational force. Feinstein echoed that position, stating the OAS could serve not just as a forum for diplomacy but also as a mechanism for “coordinated, concrete action.”
So far, only a handful of countries have pledged troops, and just a fraction of those forces have been deployed. The Kenyan-led mission, endorsed by the U.N., remains under-resourced and has failed to curb the growing influence of gangs.
Jared Genser, OAS Special Advisor, warned that unless the mission can demonstrate its ability to provide basic security, the U.N. Security Council should consider upgrading the operation to a formal peacekeeping mission. However, such a move faces opposition from veto-wielding members China and Russia.
Haiti’s security crisis has been compounded by the country’s limited resources: just 12,000 police officers and 1,000 military personnel are responsible for a population nearing 12 million. In his address, Moise also called for a review of arms sale restrictions on Haiti’s government, arguing that while gangs have access to military-grade weapons, international controls continue to hamper legitimate government efforts to acquire adequate defense resources.
With the U.S. pulling back and global support lagging, Haiti’s appeal to its neighbors and regional partners is taking on greater urgency as the country faces the risk of full-scale collapse into gang control.
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