Chad to Deploy 1,500 Troops to Haiti in UN-Backed Security Mission

Chad will deploy 1,500 troops to Haiti as part of a United Nations-backed multinational force aimed at curbing escalating gang violence, President Mahamat Déby Itno told lawmakers on Monday.

According to a letter read in parliament, two battalions of 750 each will be deployed beginning this month for a one-year mission, following a UN request. About 400 Chadian troops have already arrived in Haiti, the president said, describing the operation as a point of national pride.

The deployment comes after the UN Security Council approved an expansion of the Kenya-led force in Haiti to 5,500 personnel. The mission – now authorized to detain suspected gang members – seeks to restore order after earlier efforts were hampered by limited funding and staffing.

Armed groups currently control significant portions of Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, as well as much of the central region. Violence has intensified since the 2021 assassination of Jovenel Moïse, highlighting the urgency of an international response.