UN chief visits Haiti as new gang suppression force prepares to deploy; 2,300 killed in first half of 2026

—UN Secretary-General António Guterres visited Haiti ahead of the deployment of a new international gang suppression force, with the UN reporting at least 2,300 people killed in Haitian gang violence in the first half of 2026 alone. Guterres's visit was aimed at signaling international commitment to stabilizing the country, which has seen gang control expand dramatically across the capital and beyond. The new force is designed to go beyond the limited mandate of previous international missions.