Max

I say this with some regret, but I believe that the security situation in Haiti continues, at times, to be approached from an overly simplistic perspective that does not always capture its full scope. On August 23, 2024, General Godfrey Otunge, then Commander of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS), stated that the gangs' days were numbered. For my part, I have consistently questioned the adequacy of the very term "gangs," which is widely used to describe armed groups operating in Haiti. In my view, this reductive label risks perpetuating an oversimplified understanding of a phenomenon whose criminal, political, economic, territorial, social, cultural, moral, and security dimensions are far more intricate than the term suggests. On September 5, 2024, in an interview with the Miami Herald, General Otunge stated: "I can tell you that Lanmo Sanjou's days are numbered." On December 6, 2024, in another interview with the Associated Press, he again declared: "The gangs' days are numbered." On November 20, 2025, he essentially reiterated the same warning. These statements were made in the context of expectations that the Mission's operational capabilities would be progressively strengthened, particularly through the deployment of the necessary resources and additional personnel. In 2026, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz adopted a similar rhetoric, issuing repeated warnings to armed groups. On July 9, during his visit to Haiti, he notably warned: "Barbecue, these guys are coming for you. You'd better watch your back." Today, October 19, 2026, addressing the United Nations Security Council, he reportedly reaffirmed this determination in the following terms: "To the gang leaders terrorizing Haiti, your days of impunity are numbered. The Gang Suppression Force is coming for you." Yet this force is already present on the ground, even though its operational capabilities remain below the levels of resources and personnel initially envisaged. This is by no means intended to question the determination of those involved or to underestimate the considerable constraints they face. However, the recurrence of such statements over more than two years legitimately raises questions about the gap between stated intentions, resources actually mobilized, and results achieved. The question, therefore, is not merely whether the promised resources will ultimately be made available, but also whether our understanding of the threat, the way we define it, and the responses being considered are truly adequate to address the multifaceted nature of Haiti's security crisis.