UN renews Haiti force mandate for six months after fresh gang killings

The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday extended by six months the mandate of an international security force in Haiti intended to fight powerful

armed groups that have taken control of much of the country.



Twelve nations voted to renew the mandate of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) and none voted against. Three nations, however, abstained: China, Russia and Pakistan, whose representatives cited concerns over insufficient funds, personnel and efficacy.



The extension is intended to provide security ahead of Haiti's first election in a decade in December. Armed groups continue to control large parts of the Caribbean nation despite successive international deployments, and the force has struggled to deploy enough troops to carry out its mandate.



Haiti, whose leaders first called for international security support in 2022, had urged nations to renew the mandate for the force, which is currently at less than 30% of its intended size.