Backing from the brink: assessing Haiti’s security sector and opportunities for future security sector governance and reform programming
Summary — This report assesses Haiti's security sector, focusing on threats, challenges, and opportunities for improved governance and effectiveness. It examines the transition of the Multinational Security Support Mission into the Gang Suppression Force and maps international assistance, providing recommendations for security sector governance and reform.
Key Findings
- Haiti's national security ecosystem is characterized by the dynamic interaction of numerous actors operating de facto in the security field.
- The Haitian government estimates that it is urgent to remedy the weakness of the police force by increasing the number of personnel to at least 20,000.
- The transition from the MSS to the FRG offers the international community a new opportunity to support Haiti in restoring the safety and security of its inhabitants and paving the way for elections.
- Coordination between international partners mainly takes the form of joint funding of multilateral programs supporting security-related activities.
Full Description
This summary report provides an overview of an assessment of the security sector in Haiti conducted by DCAF at the request of Switzerland, France, and Germany. The assessment offers a security threat profile, an analysis of the security ecosystem and its challenges, and an examination of the Multinational Security Support Mission's transition into the Gang Suppression Force. It also maps security assistance provided by international partners and provides recommendations for improved governance and effectiveness of the security sector, covering topics such as international coordination, strategic planning, internal control, DDR, psychosocial support, gender, and maritime security. The assessment took place from November 2024 to November 2025.