Topic: 2026 – Situation in Haiti
Country: Russian Federation
Delegate Name: Supratik Biswas
On the matter of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Republic of Haiti, the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations recognizes the severity of the current deterioration of national security, political stability, and general social order and sympathizes with the suffering of the civilian populace. As the successor of the former USSR’s permanent membership seat on the UNSC, the Russian Federation has consistently aimed to uphold the principles of state sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs and a general consent of the host state to the authorization of international action. Acknowledging the critical necessity to restore stability and protect civilians in the region, Russia must still, based on historical retrospection, assert that externally imposed solutions have failed to result in meaningful, lasting stability in the Haitian area. Therefore, the Russian Federation supports international assistance to Haiti only when it is required beyond any reasonable doubt, and still then limited in scope by terms clearly and explicitly stated in written accord, and only designed to support Haitian institutions of governance rather than replace them with foreign control.
To provide a foundation for the current events of the crisis in the Republic of Haiti, the nation has suffered from prolonged political instability following the collapse of the Duvalier dictatorship in 1986. The situation was intensified by the assassination of acting President Jovenel Moïse, which created a power vacuum and deepened the ongoing crisis. Due to the lack of elected officials, the legitimacy of the following transitional government has been frequently disputed, undermining its authority. All the while, Haiti has faced a dramatic deterioration in its ability to promote domestic safety. Armed gangs occupy and control most of the Haitian capital, impeding the government’s ability to provide basic services. The Haitian National Police, lacking sufficient resources, is often overwhelmed. This reckless disregard for order has intensified the humanitarian crisis, especially causing mass homelessness, widespread violence, and increased levels of food insecurity.
In the past, the United Nations Security Council has provided aid for Haiti through missions including but not limited to the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and the current United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH). These efforts succeeded in the short-term by providing protection to and helping ensure the security of civilians, but they failed to establish sustainable, Haitian-led governance or security structures. It is the stance of the Russian Federation that the long-term effectiveness of past programs was often compromised by overly broad mission parameters and limited local control in humanitarian efforts. On the matter of supporting stabilization efforts, the UNSC must evaluate risks such as the absence of a widely accepted and legitimized Haitian political authority, the danger of foreign over-reliance and potential occupation, the past lacking of coordination between security, humanitarian, and governance establishment efforts. International missions, especially sent by benevolent bodies such as the UNSC must set clear objectives and be granted only enough authority to satisfy those objectives, risking the deepening of dependency on foreign aid.
The Russian Federation understands and acknowledges the intent of the UNSC Resolution 2793’s authorization of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) as a replacement of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission but emphasizes that the GSF must operate strictly to support the Haitian National Police and and other Haitian authorities, and always with consent of the Haitian government. Its mandate should remain clearly defined and should be strict to only grant enumerated powers necessary to be an assistance mission, not an operation to independently restore stabilization to Haiti and should be subject to regular review of the Security Council. Additionally, the Russian Delegation emphasizes the importance of the GSF to be a strengthening support force in Haiti, not a governing body. Its objectives should be based on the protection of critical infrastructure, the enabling of safe humanitarian access, and should remain strictly away from political interference.
The Russian Federation supports an approach that prioritizes capacity building for the Haitian National Police based on a security-first and institution-focused strategy. The GSF should concentrate on support through operations that protect critical infrastructure, civilian life and dignity, and general peacekeeping while avoiding overly broad mandates. The Security Council should implement supplementary measures to guide the process to political restoration while never directly interfering. It is Russia’s adamant stance that humanitarian assistance is to be delivered through impartial UN agencies and should be politically neutral. Long-term stability will require gradually returning full responsibility of governance back to the Republic of Haiti, and the path there should be a careful one of assistance, not direct interference.
