Link to the article: https://latinamericanpost.com/americas/u-s-and-panama-push-for-5500-troop-gang-suppression-force-in-haiti-as-crisis-deepens/
In Port-au-Prince, Haiti, gangs control around 90% of the area. This statistic has sparked interest from the U.S. and Panama, who are pushing the U.N. to approve a 5,550-person Gang Suppression Force. Unlike other peacekeeping missions, this force could arrest and detain gang members, acting with Haitian authorities. The plan sparked due to failed missions from Kenya, who are understaffed and unable to challenge the gangs effectively. Since the president’s assassination in 2021, Haiti has lacked a strong government, allowing gangs to take over and violence to increase. The force aims to protect key buildings such as schools and hospitals, but funding and troop size are still undecided. The current mandate expires on October 2, so time is limited and a decision must be made soon. Otherwise, gangs could gain control of nearly all of Haiti.
The event highlights the consequences of a failing state and also the risks of other countries intervening. It ultimately started because of the president’s assassination and no one else to hold order. But, with the hopeful approval of this new suppression force, the U.S. and Panama can help tame these gang groups and bring Haiti back to what it once was. However, what will happen if this force gets approved and is successful? Once the gangs are cleared, there will still be no order in place, meaning that the U.S. or another country may have to step in to help build order. Ultimately, this issue was held off for too long, and even if gangs are cleared, it will be hard to restore what there once was.
Both the U.S. and Panama governments could keep pushing the U.N. to approve this force, or they could lay off and allow Haiti to get taken over. Obviously, they should jump in to help, but by waiting too long, it causes something that will be very difficult to reverse. Other stakeholders, such as other countries’ governments could jump in to provide aid, but then it’s a question of is it worth providing resources? All of these countries must ask themselves if it is worth giving up money and resources to provide aid to a country that is almost taken over already. If it comes to building a new order in Haiti, voters could respond by electing a new president to restore order that they believe will be effective and trustworthy.
This relates to class because it connects concepts such as global actors, challenges, and even questions of sovereignty. The U.S. and Panama, both states, are trying to contribute to a helpless state facing violence and human rights threats. The U.N., an intergovernmental organization, is also trying to step in and approve of this suppression force. This also highlights sovereignty, because a force outside of Haiti is allowed to arrest Haitians. It ultimately shows how a crippling state that is possibly facing a regime change may need help from outside forces to restore sovereignty and order.