A group of member states from the Organization of American States (OAS) issued a joint statement reaffirming their support for Haiti amid ongoing security and institutional challenges. The statement emphasizes respect for Haiti’s sovereignty and references the resolution adopted at the 55th OAS General Assembly, which called for urgent solutions to address the crisis in the country.
The OAS Permanent Council recently received an updated Haiti Roadmap presented by the Secretary General. This framework, developed with Haitian authorities, the United Nations, and Inter-American partners, prioritizes security as essential for humanitarian aid and democratic restoration through elections. It also outlines practical steps for coordination and resource mobilization.
The signatories acknowledged the United Nations’ central role in maintaining peace and security. They noted that violence from organized criminal groups in Haiti threatens both local lives and broader regional stability. In response, they expressed support for establishing a UN Support Office for Haiti (UNSOH) and transitioning the current Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission into a new force dedicated to restoring law and order under Haitian leadership.
The statement commended Kenya’s leadership of the MSS mission and recognized personnel contributions from countries including the Bahamas, Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Jamaica.
Recognizing that sustainable peace requires more than security operations alone, the signatories committed to supporting Haitian-led initiatives aimed at addressing underlying causes such as weak institutions, corruption, poverty, social inequality, limited education access, and insufficient public services.
They highlighted “the important role of the OAS in strengthening institutional and operational capacities through a civil humanitarian and human rights approach while fully respecting Haitian leadership, national democratic institutionality, and international legal norms with particular attention to addressing sexual violence and protecting women, children, and members of other vulnerable groups.”
The group stated their readiness to partner with the United Nations and Haiti according to national capabilities to advance efforts outlined in the OAS Haiti Roadmap. They encouraged voluntary donations to the UN Trust Fund for supporting a new force mandated by the UN Security Council (UNSC) as well as complementary support through OAS mechanisms consistent with UN frameworks.
The statement reiterated: “We reaffirm that Haiti’s path forward must remain Haitian-led, with the full ownership of its institutions and civil society. Humanitarian assistance, long term socio-economic development, the protection of members of vulnerable groups, and respect for human rights and international law must remain at the core of our collective effort. The OAS, CARICOM, and the UN must act in full coordination to ensure coherence, legitimacy, and effectiveness.”
Concluding their message: “Today we send a united hemispheric message: Haiti cannot wait. The time for decisive coordinated action is now.”