FILE - Chadian President Mahamat Deby Itno participates in his inauguration ceremony in N'djamena, Chad, May 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Mouta Ali, File)
Chad is set to contribute 1,500 personnel to the United Nations security initiative in Haiti, aiming to curb the escalating gang warfare in the Caribbean nation. This decision was revealed in a formal communication from the presidency to the legislative body, highlighting a significant moment for African politics on the international stage.
President Mahamat Déby Itno informed lawmakers in the Central African nation that two separate battalions, each consisting of 750 soldiers, will begin their one-year deployment this month following a request from the United Nations. This move is part of a broader effort reported by pan-African news outlets to stabilize the region.
“An advance team of 400 personnel has already been dispatched to Haiti as part of this mission, which brings great credit to Chad and its national defense and security forces,” the President stated. This deployment marks a notable contribution to global peace efforts often covered in Africa news English services.
Last year, the UN Security Council authorized an expansion of the multinational mission—initially spearheaded by Kenya—increasing its total capacity to 5,500 personnel. This updated mandate, known as the gang suppression force, also grants the troops the authority to detain suspected criminal members, a power absent in previous iterations of the mission.
The original 2023 mission, led by the Kenya police, faced significant hurdles due to insufficient funding and staffing shortages despite its initial goal of 2,500 members. Such challenges are frequently analyzed by experts tracking the African economy today and its impact on military capabilities.
Currently, violent criminal organizations dominate approximately 90% of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, along with significant portions of the central provinces. The nation’s stability has been precarious since the 2021 assassination of former President Jovenel Moïse at his private residence.
Human rights groups report that at least 30 individuals were killed and many others went missing recently after the Gran Grif gang targeted Petite-Rivière de l’Artibonite in central Haiti last month. For more updates on international security and Panafrica News, stay tuned to our latest reports.
