On Thursday, October 8, 2026, the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd’H) participated in the official ceremony marking the operational launch of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF).

Held at the Vertières military base in Tabarre, this ceremony, significant in both institutional and symbolic terms, featured a solemn flag-raising, signaling the start of a new phase in the collective commitment to restoring national security.

The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, government officials, the FAd’H High Command, representatives from the six current troop-contributing nations, members of the diplomatic corps, and United Nations representatives.

In his address, the Prime Minister described the deployment of the GSF as a major milestone in the national and international response to the security crisis, as well as in efforts to restore state authority and ensure the protection of the population across the entire country.

"The State must regain control of its territory," the Prime Minister declared, emphasizing that the GSF’s actions must help create the conditions necessary to reclaim areas held by armed groups, protect civilians, and restore republican order.

The Head of Government also noted that a security response alone cannot guarantee the country's lasting stabilization. It must be part of a broader process involving the restoration of state authority, the consolidation of institutions, the strengthening of the justice system, and the restoration of public services. These conditions remain essential, he emphasized, for creating an environment conducive to the country’s stabilization and the holding of free, transparent, and credible elections.

Representatives from Guatemala, El Salvador, Chad, Mongolia, Jamaica, and Sri Lanka, who are currently participating in the Multinational Security Support Mission alongside Haiti, reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Haitian forces during this new phase.

The ceremony featured military demonstrations showcasing the contingents' operational capabilities.

From Vertières, the government aims to send a clear message : reclaiming territory, protecting the population, and restoring republican order are now at the heart of the State's actions.

HL/ HaitiLibre