The United States has confirmed that up to 7,500 security personnel have been pledged by various countries to support a new gang suppression force in Haiti, but Kenya has not committed any additional officers to the expanded mission.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the pledges on Friday, noting that the number exceeds the original target. However, Kenya, which has been leading the current security mission in Haiti, is missing from the list of countries that have offered fresh personnel.
Sources familiar with the process said several countries, including Bangladesh, Chad, Burundi and some Caribbean nations, have committed hundreds of troops. The reasons behind Kenya’s absence remain unclear.
Insiders warned that Kenya’s current deployment of about 700 police officers in Port-au-Prince could end next year if the country is not included in the new structure of the force.
According to the sources, Kenya has insisted on retaining command of the newly named Gang Suppression Force. One official familiar with the talks said Kenya’s continued presence depends on leadership of the mission.
“If Kenya is not allowed to lead the (Gang Suppression Force) GSF then they have no business being in Haiti,” said an official aware of the developments.
The United Nations Security Council agreed at the end of September 2025 to more than double the size of the international security mission in Haiti, which has been in place for 15 months. The council also approved renaming the mission as a gang suppression force to reflect its expanded role.
Speaking to reporters, Rubio said the response from contributing countries and donors had surpassed expectations.
"We were looking for 5,500 forces. We already have pledges of up to 7,500 forces from a variety of countries. We've seen donors step up to fund that effort," Rubio told reporters.
Haiti continues to face severe insecurity, with armed gangs controlling most of the capital, Port-au-Prince. The violence has forced about 1.3 million people from their homes and worsened food shortages. According to UNICEF, children make up an estimated 50 percent of gang members in the country.
The United States and Canada hosted a closed-door pledging meeting at the United Nations on December 9, 2025, to rally support for the new force. In a joint statement, they said 18 entities had pledged personnel, funding, equipment and technical assistance.
Kenya first deployed police officers to Haiti in June 2024 under the Multinational Security Support mission. The operation has faced challenges in fully pushing back armed gangs, some of which Washington has labeled terrorist groups.
Despite the difficulties, the arrival of the Kenyan-led team came at a time of rising violence and helped stabilize parts of the capital. Officials say the mission prevented gangs from taking full control of Port-au-Prince.
Many officials credit the Kenyan officers for restoring calm in key areas of the city. They say the situation would have been far worse had the team not taken up positions.
Authorities point to several gains made by the mission, including improved security, freer movement within the city, reopening of major roads and steady progress in training the Haitian Police.
On December 4, Rubio publicly praised the Kenyan team for its role in restoring order and supporting stability in Haiti.
