Statement Delivered by H.E. Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett on behalf of the A3+ during the Briefing on the Question Concerning Haiti

Thank you, Madam President,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the A3+, namely Algeria, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, and my own country, Guyana.

We welcome the opportunity to discuss the Security Council’s support to Haiti and our collective response to the government’s request for assistance in tackling spiralling armed gang violence in the country.

We thank ASG Jenča for the briefing and appreciate the updates provided by Ms. Juma on the MSS mission. We also thank Dr. Pape and Mr. Cohen for their contributions to the discussion and welcome the participation of the (Permanent) Representatives of Haiti, Grenada, Canada, Mexico, Jamaica, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic in today’s meeting.

Madam President,

The A3+ is deeply alarmed by the reports of expanding gang violence in Haiti which has worsened living conditions in the country’s capital and neighbouring areas and forced thousands of people to flee their homes. The spate of attacks carried out, especially over the past two months, has resulted in more senseless killings and has left the country virtually isolated with the suspension of maritime and aerial operations.

We commend the efforts of the HNP and the MSS in tackling the rising insecurity, noting that the situation has significantly deteriorated in recent weeks. We also recognize the unrelenting efforts of UN agencies and international and local NGOs in responding to the pressing humanitarian needs.

With reference to the letter sent recently by the President of the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) to the UN Secretary-General, we have come to understand that while the joint anti-gang operations by the HNP and MSS have yielded some positive results, there remains an enormous challenge as their effectiveness in combatting the spiralling armed gang violence is limited.

It is against this backdrop that Haiti has requested that the MSS mission be transformed into a United Nations peacekeeping mission to secure more funding and a broader mandate, as well as to assist the MSS in delivering on its mandate.

In view of the prevailing situation, the A3+ is open to supporting this request to address the multidimensional security challenges facing Haiti. There is simply no time to lose.

Being fully cognizant that this is not an overnight process but rather a gradual one, we, however, continue to emphasize the need for continued support to the MSS mission and urge those who have made pledges to the MSS Trust Fund to fulfill their commitment as early as possible. The reality is that any lapse in the anti-gang operations will increase the likelihood of criminal armed gangs further expanding their networks and stronghold on communities and tightening their chokehold on the country.

The A3+ reiterates our profound appreciation to the Kenyan Government for offering to lead the MSS mission and thank those Member States that have already committed funding, personnel or other forms of material support to the

mission. We remain convinced that even with the mission’s partial deployment, their presence on the ground has made an important difference.

We look forward to our discussion later this afternoon on the options before us and hope that we will be able to make some headway in determining the appropriate way forward. One that takes into account not only the reality of the situation on the ground but also the lessons learned from the past.

It is incumbent upon the Council to use the tools at its disposal to support Haiti in restoring peace and security and achieving a smooth transition.

Madam President,

The A3+ firmly believes that the key to unlocking the path to meaningful progress in the political, economic, and other fields, lies primarily in addressing in resolving the security crisis facing Haiti.

Similarly, we also wish to stress that tackling the security crisis and advancing the political process, must be done in tandem to ensure the early restoration of constitutional order and democratic institutions. Strong institutions, including governance and judicial institutions, are an essential precondition for the effective and efficient functioning of any State. We therefore welcome the

assurances of the transitional authorities, including the new interim Prime Minister and Cabinet, on the expectation of reaching the goal of elections by November 2025, in keeping with the agreed framework.

We urge the region and international community to remain steadfast in their support for Haiti’s determined path to peace, stability, and democracy.

In this vein, we welcome and appreciate CARICOM’s commitment to continue providing its good offices and facilitating Haiti’s efforts to arrive at home grown solutions, resolved by and for the Haitian people.

Like the rest of us, Haitians deserve to live in a stable and secure country.

Haitians deserve the same opportunity as everyone else to live in a stable and secure country. In upholding our commitments under the 2030 Agenda, we have a moral obligation to ensure that no one is left behind in this pursuit of justice and equality.

I Thank You.