Statement by the Special Representative of the Gang Suppression Force to the Security Council, 20 July 2026

AS DELIVERED Statement by Special Representative of the Gang Suppression Force Jack Christofides to the Security Council 20 July 2026 Madam President, Distinguished Council Members, Thank you for the opportunity to brief you on the progress of the Haiti Gang Suppression Force. I am honoured to do so alongside my colleagues, Special Representatives Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Vanessa Frazier, and Executive Director Monica Juma. I recognize the Foreign Ministers of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, whose countries are extending important support to the GSF. When I briefed you three months ago, the Council had reaffirmed its trust in the GSF to carry out a difficult but necessary mandate: to support the Haitian authorities in reducing the influence of gangs and creating the time and space necessary for longer-term stability. The first phase of that effort is now in hand and implementation is progressing steadily. The GSF has established structures, planning processes, and coordination mechanisms to begin sustained anti-gang operations. We are moving into the early stages of action. The Force has established its headquarters and rules of engagement, as well as some of the first command and control arrangements and intelligence structures. It deployed its first forward operating base inside a strategic area, established continuous patrol patterns, and commenced early operations against gang infrastructure. On 21 June, the GSF conducted a cordon, search and clear operation in Tabarre, a major district of the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area. This led to the apprehension of several suspected individuals and the destruction of hundreds of Molotov cocktails. Immediately on the heels of that operation, we continued with mounted, dismounted, daytime and nighttime patrols in the same area, and brought in bulldozers that removed barricades used by gangs to hold territory. I point out this example because it aligns with our concept of operations, which is deliberately incremental. The mission is concentrating resources in carefully selected priority areas, establishing persistent security, and progressively expanding operational reach. Page 2 of 6 Every push forward contributes to the conditions that make the next operation possible, and more effective. These foundations are the building blocks of a functioning multinational force. On 6 July, the GSF seized weapons and ammunition that were reported to the Security Council Panel of Experts and placed in the custody of the Haitian authorities. Another example of this operational model occurred last week during a subsequent operation in the municipality of Delmas. Despite coming under fire from gangs, the GSF successfully achieved its objective of finding and dismantling a cache of improvised incendiary devices, demonstrating both growing tactical proficiency and commitment to incremental expansion. Madam President, Equally important has been the development of the institutional framework necessary to carry out responsible operations. I am grateful to the Government of Haiti for its efforts to conclude with us, in a short period of time, the legal arrangements for facilitating the mission's speedy deployment and operational activities. These include Status Protection Agreements for troop- and police-contributing countries, and a handover agreement for the safe and legal transfer of detainees. These instruments provide the clarity necessary for the GSF to carry out its mandate in accordance with Haitian sovereignty and Haitian law. Page 3 of 6 Likewise, I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the United Nations Support Office in Haiti, whose administrative, logistical, and operational support has been indispensable in enabling the rapid deployment and operationalization of the GSF. The mission has also established a comprehensive accountability architecture, including operational policies, mandatory induction training, and civilian harm mitigation measures. The GSF works in full compliance with the United Nations Human Rights Due Diligence Policy (HRDDP) and treats accountability as one of its most essential assets. This commitment was operationalized last week through the inaugural convening of the GSF-UN HRDDP Dialogue Forum. Council Members, Resolution 2793 also requested the development of strategic objectives and benchmarks to measure the effectiveness of the mission. In consultation with the Government of Haiti and other stakeholders, the GSF has now completed and submitted that strategy to you. Our strategy distinguishes between implementing the mandate and achieving outcomes that the mandate intended to produce. It establishes measurable benchmarks for this Council to evaluate. Specifically, whether GSF operations are reducing gang control, building Page 4 of 6 independent Haitian capabilities, and creating conditions for restoring State authority. The benchmarks provide a transparent and comprehensive basis for measuring progress and ensuring accountability to the Council, and to the Haitian people, for reaching an end state of GSF operations. Madam President, Distinguished Council Members, The political and humanitarian environment nevertheless remains extremely challenging. Armed gangs are likely to adapt their tactics to stay in control. Meanwhile, humanitarian needs continue to soar. Political uncertainty remains one of the most caustic variables affecting the success of the GSF. These dynamics reinforce the importance of close coordination with the United Nations system, and with the Haitian authorities themselves. I fully concur with SRSG Ruiz Massieu: restoring democratic governance in Haiti requires that citizens be able to live, work, and participate in public life in safety and dignity. While security measures alone cannot address the country's broader political and governance challenges, they are an essential part of the solution. Council Members, Page 5 of 6 The GSF is in the early stages. No one should claim that Haiti's security challenges will be solved overnight. But this is why continued support matters. The institutional foundations have now been established. The command structure exists. The operational model is showing promise. Forward operations have begun. This is the point at which additional investment begins to generate increasing returns. If this momentum is sustained, the GSF will progressively expand and increase pressure on gangs and their patronage networks. If momentum is interrupted, we risk losing this flow. The international community has, for the first time in several years, a mission with a clear mandate, a coherent operational concept, measurable benchmarks, strong accountability mechanisms, and firm political support. The opportunity before us is not simply to sustain a mandate. It is to sustain momentum. Thank you, Madam President. Page 6 of 6