Haiti’s transitional leader has appealed to the United Nations for the creation of a stronger international security force to combat gangs, while also demanding reparations from France for what he described as two centuries of historical injustice.
Addressing world leaders at the 80th UN General Assembly in New York, Anthony Franck Laurent Saint-Cyr, President of Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council, painted a grim picture of life in the country, citing rampant murders, gang rapes, famine and the displacement of more than one million people.
“This is the face of Haiti today: a country at war, a modern-day Guernica, a human tragedy,” he said.
“It is a war between criminals who want to impose violence as the social order and an unarmed population struggling to preserve human dignity.”
For the past 15 months, a Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) has attempted to restore order but has struggled with limited numbers and resources. Fewer than 1,000 of the 2,500 pledged police officers have been deployed. While the mission secured Haiti’s main airport and reopened some roads, armed gangs continue to control much of Port-au-Prince.
With the MSS mandate set to expire in October, Haiti supported by the United States and Panama is urging the Security Council to authorize a 5,500-strong “Gang Suppression Force” under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. This would allow the use of force to neutralize gangs, secure infrastructure and restore stability.
“Haiti wants peace. Haiti is waiting for peace. Haiti has the right to peace,” Saint-Cyr said, warning of a dangerous security vacuum if the current mission ends without a stronger replacement. A vote on the proposal is expected in the coming days.
The Haitian leader also pressed for reparations from France, recalling the 1825 ordinance that forced Haiti to pay 150 million gold francs in exchange for recognition of independence. He described it as a “ransom” that drained the country’s economy until 1947.
“Our voice is raised to demand reparations, not in a spirit of revenge, but with a concern for justice and truth,” he said. France’s National Assembly formally acknowledged the injustice earlier this year and Haiti has since formed a National Committee for Reparations and Restitution.
Beyond security and historical justice, Saint-Cyr emphasized the importance of restoring democracy. Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, Haiti has lacked an elected government. The transitional council, established in 2024 through a Caribbean Community (CARICOM) compromise, is preparing for elections, with over 85 percent of polling stations identified and $65 million secured.
“The Haitian people must be able to choose their leaders,” he told the Assembly, calling credible elections essential to ending the cycle of instability.
Saint-Cyr concluded with an urgent warning, “Every day that passes benefits the gangs that are suffocating Haiti. If the Security Council does not act quickly, the country risks sinking further into chaos.”
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