President Mahamat Idriss Déby announced Monday that Chad will deploy 1,500 soldiers to Haiti to reinforce a United Nations-backed mission tasked with reclaiming the Caribbean nation from powerful criminal gangs. The deployment marks a significant escalation in international efforts to stabilise Port-au-Prince, where armed groups currently control an estimated 90% of the capital.
The Chadian contribution will consist of two battalions of 750 personnel each. This force is part of the newly established Gang Suppression Force (GSF), which was authorised by UN Security Council Resolution 2793 to transition the previous Kenyan-led mission into a more robust operational body. An advance contingent of 400 Chadian troops has already arrived on the ground to begin preliminary operations alongside the Haitian National Police.
During an address to the Chadian Parliament, President Déby invoked the country's 2024 constitution to justify the move as a matter of global necessity. He highlighted Chad's extensive history in international security, referencing past operations against Boko Haram and peacekeeping roles in Mali and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
"The state cannot shirk its responsibilities," President Déby declared, according to reports from AFP. He emphasised that Chad’s experience in high-stakes counter-terrorism makes its military uniquely suited to the urban warfare conditions currently paralysing Haiti.
The mission comes at a critical juncture for Haiti. According to the International Rescue Committee (IRC), violence has displaced more than 1.4 million people, with over 5,500 individuals killed since early 2025. Gang alliances like Viv Ansanm have increasingly targeted civilians, leading to a humanitarian crisis where over half the population requires urgent aid.
The GSF is expected to grow to 5,500 personnel by the end of this summer. While the original mission led by Kenya faced significant funding hurdles and staffing delays, the inclusion of seasoned Chadian battalions is viewed by diplomats as a necessary "reboot" of the international community's strategy to restore order and allow for long-delayed national elections.