UN-appointed anti-gang force commander arrives in Haiti to lead expanded mission 

PORT-AU-PRINCE — Major General Erdenebat Batsuuri, the newly appointed commander of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), arrived in Haiti Thursday to lead the multinational mission supporting Haitian police and military operations against armed gangs as violence continues to spread across the country.

Batsuuri officially replaces Kenyan commander Godfrey Otunge, who led the ineffective Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS), whose mandate has ended. The GSF operates under a broader mandate approved by the U.N. Security Council and is expected to expand anti-gang operations beyond the scope of the MSS mission.

In a statement announcing Batsuuri’s arrival, the GSF described the deployment as “a key milestone” in strengthening the mission’s operational presence in Haiti.

“His arrival in Port-au-Prince marks a key milestone as the GSF strengthens its operational presence in Haiti,”  the mission communications department said.

The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince also welcomed the transition, saying Washington would continue working with Haitian authorities and international partners to support security and stability efforts.

According to the GSF, Batsuuri is a Mongolian military officer with more than three decades of command and U.N. peacekeeping experience. He is expected to oversee a force projected to reach 5,500 personnel by October 2026.

So far, about 800 troops and officers have deployed, including contingents from Chad, Guatemala and El Salvador, according to U.N. officials. Chad is currently the largest contributor and has pledged to send 1,500 personnel by June.

Unlike the MSS mission, whose role focused largely on protecting critical infrastructure and supporting Haitian police operations, the GSF is authorized to conduct operations independently when necessary alongside the Haitian National Police and Haitian Armed Forces.

The deployment comes as Haiti faces one of its worst security crises in decades. Armed gangs now control most of Port-au-Prince and key roads connecting the capital to provincial cities. The violence has displaced more than 1 million people nationwide, according to the United Nations, while killings, kidnappings and attacks on public infrastructure continue to rise.

Violence has intensified in recent weeks in the Cul-de-Sac Plain area north of the capital, where rival gangs linked to the “Viv Ansanm” coalition have fought over territory and extortion routes targeting cargo trucks. In the Artibonite region, armed groups continue carrying out deadly attacks despite repeated police interventions.

The Haitian National Police says it has intensified operations against gangs in several regions, including against the “Chen Mechan” and “Kokorat San Ras” groups. Authorities reported weapons seizures and armed confrontations in recent days, though no official casualty figures have been released.

Key leadership figures of new multinational anti-gang mission

• Jack Christofides — GSF special representative

Jack Christofides, a South African U.N. official with experience in peacekeeping, political affairs and human rights, serves as the GSF’s special representative. He previously held senior positions within the U.N. Department of Peace Operations and worked in conflict zones, including Sudan and the Great Lakes region.

• Erdenebat Batsuuri — GSF commander

Before his appointment in Haiti, Batsuuri served as force commander of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. A former chief of staff of Mongolia’s Air Force Command, he has participated in international missions in Iraq, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan and South Sudan.

• Daniela Kroslak — head of the U.N. Support Office in Haiti

German diplomat Daniela Kroslak leads the United Nations Support Office in Haiti (UNSOH), which provides logistical, technical, and administrative support to the GSF. She previously served with U.N. missions in Mali and Yemen.

• Carlos Ruiz Massieu — head of BINUH

Mexican diplomat Carlos Ruiz Massieu continues to lead the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH). His office supports the GSF on issues related to human rights, child protection and disarmament programs.

While the GSF aims to reduce gang influence and stabilize key areas, U.N. officials have acknowledged the force is not expected to eliminate gangs entirely but rather weaken their operational capacity and support Haitian institutions struggling to regain control of the country.

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