UN extends mandate of Gang Suppression Force in Haiti for six months

The United Nations Security Council has voted to extend the mandate of an international security task force deployed to Haiti to address escalating violence from gangs and other criminal groups. The council voted on Tuesday to extend the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) until March 31, 2027. China, Russia and Pakistan abstained from the vote, citing concerns over the measure’s effectiveness. Gang violence has remained stubbornly high in Haiti, with much of the capital, Port-au-Prince, under the control of organised criminal networks. Still, proponents of the task force highlighted its expanded mandate.