At the heart of his speech was the urgency of freeing himself from spiral violence, in parallel with a call to close what he described as two centuries of historical injustice.
Laurent Saint-Cyr painted a dark image: murders, gang rapes, famine and more than a million displaced people.
“It is a war between criminals who want to impose violence as a social order and an unarmed population who fights to preserve human dignity,” he said.
The armed gangs now control a large part of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and continue to distribute terror nationally.
Thin stretched support mission
In the past 15 months, a multinational security support mission led by Kenyan (MSS) – authorized by the Security advice But depends on voluntary contributions – tried to restore stability.
Of the 2,500 police officers initially promised, less than 1,000 were deployed. While the force secured Haiti’s main airport and reopened certain roads, it did not interrupt the Port-au-Prince slide near anarchy.
“Their bravery was not sufficient to contain the crisis,” said Mr. Saint-Cyr to the United Nations General Assembly.
Press a new “deletion force”
With the MSS mandate which expires in early October, Haiti-supported by the United States and Panama-urges the creation of a gang suppression force of 5,500 people.
Washington wants the new mission to be mandated under chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nationsallowing the use of force against threats to peace.
The proposal includes a new United Nations support office in Haiti and a clear mandate: neutralize gangs, secure key infrastructure and restore minimum institutional stability.
“Haiti wants peace. Haiti awaits peace. Haiti has the right of peace, “said Saint-Cyr, warning against a security vacuum if the current mission ends. A vote would be expected in the coming days.
Unfinished political transition
Safety alone, however, will not resolve the bustle of Haiti. Since the assassination of President Jenel Moïse in July 2021, the country has been without elected government. Successive interim administrations have failed to restore order.
The Transitional Council, formed in 2024 after a compromise negotiated by the Community of the Caribbean Nations (Caricom), is responsible for organizing elections.
Saint-Cyr said that more than 85% of polling stations had been identified and that $ 65 million obtained. “The Haitian people must be able to choose their leaders,” he said, calling for free and credible elections essential to end the provisional state.
The “ransom” of independence
The Haitian chief also put pressure for France’s repairs, recalling the 1825 order which forced Haiti to pay 150 million golden francs in exchange for the recognition of independence-a “ransom” which drained its economy until 1947, he told the delegates.
“Our voice is raised to demand repairs, not in a spirit of revenge, but with a concern for justice and truth,” he said. The French National Assembly recognized injustice in June and Haiti has since set up a national committee for repairs and restitution.
“France now has the opportunity to write a new page in its history with Haiti,” insisted Mr. Saint-Cyr, echoing broader debates on colonial repairs.
Beyond historical reflections, the Haitian chief said that Urgent was necessary to slow down the power of gangs. “Each passing day, benefits the suffocating Haiti gangs,” he warned. “If the Security Council does not act quickly, the country may sink more in chaos.”
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
