New york: Haiti is approaching a critical turning point, with significant political milestones providing cautious optimism, but escalating gang violence and a worsening humanitarian crisis threaten to undo hard-won progress, a UN envoy told the Security Council on Thursday. "When I last briefed the council in January, I underscored that Haiti was entering a decisive phase requiring sustained efforts across the political and security tracks. This phase is clearly now fully underway," Carlos Ruiz Massieu, head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), told the council.

According to Anadolu Agency, the transfer of executive authority to Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime's Council of Ministers in February has ensured "institutional continuity at a moment of significant vulnerability," he said. A national stability pact, signed by hundreds of political and civil society organizations, has laid the groundwork for the first elections since 2016. Political party registration has been completed for the first time in a decade, and authorities are currently updating the electoral budget and legal framework.

Massieu noted that recent Cabinet meetings were held at the National Palace for the first time in over three years, describing it as a "powerful signal of the state's gradual return" to power.

Despite the political gains, Massieu warned that gang massacres are continuing to devastate communities. He said dozens have been killed in recent attacks and nearly 1.5 million Haitians have been internally displaced, with an estimated 6.4 million requiring humanitarian assistance in 2026. Massieu also stressed the need to choke off the flow of illicit weapons, saying violence consistently spiked when ammunition supplies resumed. "This cycle must be broken," he said.

Jack Christofides, special representative for the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), outlined the mission's phased deployment strategy. The GSF, which is expected to reach up to 5,500 personnel and operate for 12 months, aims to degrade gang capabilities to a level that Haitian institutions "can sustainably manage, thereby creating the time and space necessary for the state to reassert its authority," Christofides added. He said the force is being built as "disciplined, accountable, and partnership-driven," with strict adherence to civilian protection and international human rights law. "Effectiveness without accountability will not build trust, but accountability without effectiveness will not deliver security," he said. Up to 90% of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital, remains under gang control, according to estimates, with Fils-Aime leading a campaign against criminal groups that continue to dominate the capital.

Addressing the Security Council, Prime Minister Fils-Aime said the state is actively reclaiming authority from armed groups. "The state is taking up its rightful place again, Haiti shall not perish," he noted, outlining a message of unity and three transition priorities: restoring authority, protecting civilians and preparing for a return to constitutional order. The prime minister highlighted specific military and police milestones, noting that several areas of the capital are "slowly being retaken." He reported that 1,200 police officers are already operational, with a goal of reaching 3,000 by late 2026. Additionally, 200 servicemen are consolidating areas in central Port-au-Prince, with an elite troop of 700 new recruits expected within six months.

Fils-Aime issued an urgent appeal for the immediate and fully-funded deployment of the UN-backed GSF. "The Haitian people is not asking for charity. We are asking for solidarity and for means to rebuild our future," he said. The prime minister stressed that while security operations accelerate, the government is also focused on voluntary returns for displaced families and preparing the legal framework for national elections.