Haiti – Politic : 2nd Meeting of the OAS Group of Friends of Haiti, Statement by the United States
29/08/2025 11:54:04
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On Thursday, August 28, 2025, at the second meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS) Group of Friends of Haiti on the updated Roadmap for Haiti, the United States issued the following statement :
Statement by the United States :
“[…] It is an honor to join you for this critical discussion on the updated Haiti Roadmap.
The United States appreciates the urgency with which it was developed and the commitment to regular reporting.
Hemisphere security remains a core priority for our government. And Haiti’s security, in particular, is important to the United States. Without a baseline of security, no other pillar can stand—whether that be humanitarian access, governance, elections, or economic recovery.
Let me begin by once again recognizing Kenya for answering Haiti’s call at an absolutely critical moment. The Kenyans have done everything we asked them to do.
We also recognize personnel contributions and sustainment support from several countries, many from the hemisphere, represented in this room.
As we confront terrorist gangs and transnational criminal networks seeking to topple the Haitian state, an even broader share of the international community must be invested in this fight.
To that end, the United States—alongside Panama—will seek UN Security Council authorization for a UN Support Office to properly resource a Gang Suppression Force (GSF), the proposed successor mission to the MSS.
This initiative, endorsed by the Government of Haiti, is our collective responsibility. And it is incumbent on all in this room to step up and ensure it succeeds.
The region’s united voice is urgently needed to ensure adoption of this resolution in the coming weeks.
To this end, we look forward to working with you to develop a joint statement of support, within the framework of the OAS, in favor of the timely adoption of the Security Council resolution. Our USOAS colleagues will share a draft of this joint statement shortly and welcome the views of all interested delegations.
Complementing these efforts, the OAS will remain critical in continuing to build capacity and better equip Haitian security forces.
To that end, and consistent with the resolution passed by this body in Antigua, we encourage all OAS Member States and Permanent Observers to work with and provide funding to the OAS “SECURE-Haiti” team.
We also underscore the importance of burden-sharing on financial and force contributions.
Haiti should not have to turn for help primarily from outside the Western Hemisphere.
Now turning to the roadmap—let me underscore the four near-term actions that demand our urgent attention:
We must resource the current MSS mission effectively during the transition to the GSF and align OAS capacity-building to HNP priorities.
We must secure authorization of the UN Support Office and GSF: We aim to ensure that by early October, the UNSC has adopted a resolution authorizing a UN Support Office and transitioning the MSS mission to the Gang Suppression Force.
We must do more to reduce the flow of weapons and money to terrorist gangs: We must accelerate maritime and port controls, enhance joint targeting, and strengthen legal cooperation to interdict arms and dismantle gang financing.
We must continue to promote accountability across all pillars to better promote anti-corruption safeguards, transparent financial mechanisms, and independent monitoring.
On the political front, we expect the Transitional Presidential Council and Prime Minister to make tangible progress on security and prepare for the end of the TPC mandate by February 7, 2026. Haiti’s future must be in the hands of the Haitian people, and their elected representatives.
Thank you very much.”
HL/ HaitiLibre