Chad has announced plans to deploy 1,500 personnel to Haiti as part of a United Nations-supported multinational security Mission aimed at restoring stability in the crisis-hit country. The commitment was disclosed in a letter from the Chadian Presidency to lawmakers, distributed on Monday, April 20.
According to the communication, about 400 Chadian personnel are already on the ground, having deployed on April 1 alongside a newly appointed leadership of the mission, which underwent restructuring late last year. The latest pledge will see two battalions of 750 troops each stationed in Haiti for a 12-month period starting April.
The deployment forms part of a broader international effort endorsed by the United Nations Security Council, which in October 2023 approved support for a multinational force to assist Haitian authorities in combating escalating gang violence.
The mission, initially projected to comprise 2,500 personnel, has struggled to meet its targets, reaching only about 40% capacity. Despite this, the mandate was expanded last October to 5,500 troops. Earlier deployments have included roughly 1,000 personnel, predominantly police officers from Kenya, alongside smaller contingents from countries in Central America and the Caribbean. Some units have since begun withdrawing.
Meanwhile, discussions with potential contributors continue, with officials from Mongolia and Sri Lanka recently engaging Haitian police, though no firm troop commitments have been confirmed.
The security situation in Haiti continues to deteriorate. The number of internally displaced persons has surged to over 1.4 million, up sharply from 133,600, as armed groups extend their control beyond the capital. Much of Port-au-Prince remains under the influence of the powerful gang coalition known as Viv Ansanm.
The protracted instability has also stalled democratic processes, with Haitian authorities repeatedly postponing elections. The country has not held a national vote in over a decade, underscoring the deepening governance vacuum.