The Gang Suppression Force (GSF) has begun its mission in Haiti. The first contingents arrived on Wednesday, and by October, the total force will number 5,500 personnel from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Their mission is to conduct selective operations based on intelligence against armed gangs, as well as to guarantee the security of critical infrastructure and main communication routes. The force will also protect the civilian population, fully respecting human rights. The mission will be carried out in collaboration with the Haitian National Police (PNH), the Ministry of Defense, the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), the United Nations Support Office in Haiti (UNSOH), the United Nations Country Team, and the Organization of American States (OAS). The first troops arrived from Chad, replacing the defunct Multinational Mission to Support Security (MSS), which also failed to achieve expected results in combating gangs. The arrival comes as gangs have expanded their control beyond Port-au-Prince into the Center and Artibonite departments amid high levels of violence between gangs, security forces, private companies, and 'self-defense' groups. On Wednesday, police reported armed clashes with gang members during a 'major operation' in the Artibonite department, located north of the capital, where at least 70 people were massacred on Sunday in an attack attributed to the armed group 'Grand Griff'.
