A Shift From MSS to GSF

Haiti’s crisis has evolved, and so too has the international response. What began as the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in January 2024 has now matured into the Global Security Force (GSF)—a mission with sharper teeth, stronger backing, and a mandate designed to turn intent into lasting impact. The GSF will consist of more than 5,500 security personnel, a sizable deployment meant to work hand in glove with the Haitian National Police (HNP) and Haiti’s armed forces.

Its objectives are clear: dismantle entrenched gang networks, protect critical infrastructure, and keep humanitarian corridors open in a country where criminal groups have long dictated the pace of daily life. For Kenya, this is more than just another peacekeeping assignment—it is a gamble on principle, credibility, and leadership in global affairs.

Why Kenya Went First

Kenya was the first to deploy troops under the MSS framework. According to Nairobi’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this decision was not driven by prestige but by principle. It was a declaration that Kenya—and by extension Africa—cannot remain on the sidelines of global crises. President William Ruto’s speech at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly underscored this: the MSS had revealed gaps in predictability and resources, demanding a firmer structure. The GSF is designed to close that gap.

The ministry insists that Kenya’s role is anchored in protecting vulnerable communities, honoring the UN Charter, and living up to international obligations on peace and security. In a world often skeptical of African states’ willingness to lead, Kenya is deliberately stepping into a leadership vacuum.

The Lessons of MSS

While the MSS laid the groundwork, its limitations were obvious. Resources were inconsistent, coordination shaky, and mandates narrow. Still, its presence helped Haiti’s government reclaim critical infrastructure that gangs had once seized—from ports to power stations. For that, the ministry publicly acknowledged and thanked partner nations: Canada, France, Japan, the U.S., Algeria, El Salvador, Jamaica, and Barbados.

But those early gains cannot hold without reinforcement. Strikes against gangs require sustained intelligence-led operations, something only a well-resourced, internationally-backed mission can achieve. The GSF, unlike its predecessor, promises that predictability.

What the GSF Brings

The GSF is not just larger in numbers; it is stronger in design. With an initial 12-month mandate, the mission will benefit from predictable funding streams and wider international consensus. Kenyan troops, now positioned at the center of the deployment, will receive the logistical and operational support that was lacking during the MSS phase.

The mission’s focus will extend beyond firepower. Intelligence coordination, infrastructure protection, and enabling humanitarian aid are core to its blueprint. In Haiti, where gang rule has suffocated trade, food distribution, and medical aid, this could be the difference between stagnation and fragile recovery.

Africa at the Forefront

Perhaps the most striking takeaway from Kenya’s lead role is what it signals globally. The ministry declared, “The Haiti mission affirms that Africa is not a bystander in global affairs.” By spearheading GSF, Kenya is asserting that African states can do more than send token contingents—they can mobilize, coordinate, and guide the international community.

It is a message to traditional global powers: Africa is not waiting for permission to lead. In Haiti, that leadership will now be tested in real time, against gangs armed to the teeth and a fragile political system desperate for stability.