Description: Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary General has warned of alarming levels of conflict escalation in the gang violence in Haiti. He emphasized the security and humanitarian crisis that has engulfed the country and warned of possible complete dissolution of any form of governance in the country. Kenya leads the multinational peacekeeping force in the country with Guatemala and El Salvador pledging to support it with 150 and 2,500 officers respectively. Haiti government officials have requested direct support from UN’s peacekeeping force and warned that gangs could endanger the continuity of governance in the country as violence and humanitarian crisis spread close to the capital.
Impact: Gangs have overtaken large portions of territory within Haiti and are threatening to overthrow the country’s government which would plunge Haiti into a prolonged humanitarian, economic and security crisis. The potential overthrow of government could severely impact regional security as armed conflict is also unraveling in Colombia. The UN should deploy security forces in support of the transitioning Haiti government in order to establish interim conditions for stabilization. Gang violence is expected to rise in the upcoming period if an international intervention isn’t solicitated from Haiti’s government.