Chad will deploy 1,500 troops to Haiti as part of a reinforced United Nations security force responding to escalating gang violence that has left civilians trapped in a humanitarian crisis, according to a letter from the president to the legislature.
In the letter read out to lawmakers of the Central African country on Monday, Chadian President Mahamat Déby Itno said two battalions of 750 troops each will be deployed from this month for one year, following a request by the United Nations. A contingent of 400 men has already been sent to Haiti as part of this mission that honors Chad and its defense and security forces, the president said.
Expanding the Security Response
Last year, the U.N. Security Council approved the expansion of the Kenya-led multinational force in Haiti to 5,500 troops, called the Gang Suppression Force, and expanded its power to include arresting suspected gang members, which the previous force did not have. The previous mission, launched in 2023, was envisioned to include 2,500 personnel and was led by the Kenyan police, but it was handicapped by a lack of staff and funds.
The expansion represents an acknowledgment that the initial international response fell short of what was needed to protect Haitian communities from armed groups. The enhanced mandate to arrest gang members reflects the severity of the security breakdown and the failure of earlier efforts to establish basic safety for civilians.
The Human Toll of Gang Control
Deadly gangs control as much as 90% of Port-au-Prince, the country's capital, and swaths of land in the country's central region. The collapse of state authority has left ordinary Haitians vulnerable to violence, extortion, and displacement, with criminal organizations operating with near-impunity across much of the nation.
In 2021, a squad of gunmen assassinated the country's former president, Jovenel Moïse, in his home, underscoring the depth of Haiti's security crisis and institutional fragility. The assassination, now in its fifth year without full accountability, highlighted the breakdown of democratic institutions and rule of law.
At least 30 people were killed and dozens more were missing, human rights groups said, after the Gran Grif gang launched a renewed attack on the town of Petite-Rivière de l'Artibonite, in central Haiti, last month. The attack demonstrates the ongoing threat to civilian populations and the urgent need for effective international support to restore security and protect vulnerable communities.
International Cooperation and Challenges
The Chadian deployment represents a significant expansion of African participation in Haiti's stabilization, though questions remain about whether the international community has provided adequate resources and coordination to address the root causes of the crisis. The previous mission's struggles with funding and staffing reveal the gap between international commitments and the actual support needed to protect Haitian civilians and rebuild functioning institutions.
Why This Matters:
The deployment of additional troops to Haiti reflects the international community's belated recognition that gang violence has created a humanitarian catastrophe requiring urgent multilateral action. With criminal organizations controlling 90% of the capital and recent attacks killing dozens, ordinary Haitians face daily threats to their safety, livelihoods, and basic rights. The expansion of the security force's arrest powers and troop numbers signals an acknowledgment that earlier efforts were inadequately resourced and mandated. However, the previous mission's funding shortfalls raise concerns about whether this expanded force will receive the sustained support necessary to protect vulnerable communities and help rebuild democratic institutions. For Haiti's civilian population, the success or failure of this mission will determine whether they can access safety, justice, and the possibility of democratic governance—or remain trapped in a cycle of violence and institutional collapse.