A3+ JOINT STATEMENT ON "THE QUESTION CONCERNING HAITI"

  Delivered by

H.E. Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Permanent Representative of

Guyana to the United Nations

22nd October 2025

Thank you, Mr. President,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the A3+, namely Algeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and my country, Guyana.

We thank SRSG Carlos Ruiz Massieu for the updates provided and we wish him every success in this new role. We also welcome the participation of the Permanent Representatives of Haiti, Belize, and the Dominican Republic in our meeting today.

Mr. President,

As we meet to assess developments in Haiti, I am mindful that just a few days ago, our Haitian brothers and sisters commemorated Dessalines Day, in honor of their founding father, whose courage and vision gave birth to the world’s first Black independent nation in 1804.

We pay tribute to the resilience and determination of the Haitian people as they mark this historical milestone.

We also recognize their renewed resolve, even amid the multidimensional challenges they face today, to build a proud, strong, and prosperous nation. The tangible support and solidarity of the international community will be critical in this regard.

Mr. President,

The reports being discussed today paint a grim picture of a deteriorating security situation amid fears of an even more profound political crisis emerging from delays in the transition timeline. The humanitarian situation also remains a major concern, with an estimated 1.4 million people displaced, as SRSG Ruiz reminded, and over twenty-seven thousand migrants having been forcibly returned.

The compounded effects of these challenges are placing a greater strain on the Transitional Presidential Council, which is already working against the clock to complete the outstanding objectives of the Political Accord. All of these are occurring amid destabilizing violence in the two key areas holding the majority of voters.

Notwithstanding these challenges, and as is often the case with most pictures, the dark is intertwined with light, and there are glimmers of hope.

The A3+ is pleased to note that progress has been achieved in several areas, notably the reinforcement of support from the international community. The Security Council’s decision to transition the MSS mission into a larger and more robust Gang Suppression Force, coupled with the gains already made by the Haitian security forces, supported by the MSS mission, around the metropolitan area of Port- au-Prince, is a significant achievement.

We hope these will pave the way for the early restoration of law and order and the holding of elections.

We also welcome the OAS Roadmap for Haiti, which offers a comprehensive framework for stabilization, focused on security, political consensus, and humanitarian aid, and which we hope will serve as a basis for aligning regional and international support with national priorities.

Together with the ongoing CARICOM Good Offices mandate through its Eminent Persons Group (EPG) and other supporting initiatives of regional and bilateral partners, there is cause for optimism that the Haitian-led pathway to peace and stability can be realized.

However, regional and international support must be accompanied by the firm determination and concerted action by all relevant Haitian stakeholders in strengthening cohesion and national consensus on the path ahead. The A3+ remains convinced that sustained progress in the security situation cannot be achieved without advancing the political process.

We support the call for Haitian stakeholders to engage in meaningful dialogue to bridge any differences in order to achieve the goals of the transitional objectives.

This must involve all segments of society, including civil society, women, and youth.

The A3+ commends the ongoing efforts to advance the transition and takes note of the promulgation on 3rd July of a Decree establishing the legal framework for a constitutional referendum. We also note the developments in preparing for national elections, including the completion, by the Electoral Council, of the assessment of voting centres across nine of the ten departments.

We commend the technical and logistical assistance provided by the United Nations in this regard. We wish to emphasize that a Haitian- led and Haitian-owned dialogue is critical to restoring and realizing democratic governance.

The A3+ also recognizes the support provided by BINUH in aiding the Commission for the Implementation of Penal Reform and note Haiti’s ongoing efforts to implement the sanctions measures and pursue gang leaders and alleged collaborators through the justice system. The support of BINUH, OHCHR, and UNODC has also been vital in operationalizing the two specialized judicial units established in April.

The A3+ continues to emphasize that strengthening Haiti's justice institutions and restoring the rule of law are critical to restoring security and achieving sustainable peace.

This also means making greater strides in implementing the provisions of the arms embargo, including with the support of CARICOM IMPACS, which has a mandate from the CARICOM Heads of Government to strengthen the security capacities of member states.

Preventing the illegal flow of weapons and ammunition into Haiti is critical to stabilization efforts and to ending the cycle of violence.

We endorse the Secretary-General’s call to appoint a national institution responsible for disarmament, dismantlement, and reintegration efforts and commend the Haitian authorities, with support from BINUH and partners, for the progress made thus far in that regard. This promotes national ownership and sustainable progress.

The A3+ also wishes to emphasise the vital role of these efforts in peacebuilding and stability.

Turning to the humanitarian situation, Mr. President, the A3+ remains concerned about the gap between needs and resources, with the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan being woefully underfunded.

We commend the government’s efforts to give greater attention to easing the plight of displaced persons, including through the relocation programme, which has resulted in a slight reduction in the number of internally displaced persons.

As living conditions across the sites remain dire, with women, children, and persons with disabilities exposed to heightened protection risks, we urge the international community to scale up contributions to the humanitarian response plan.

Finally, and as I close, Mr. President, the A3+ commends the dedication of United Nations personnel in Haiti and their positive contribution to Haiti’s recovery and development.

Even with the departure from this Council of some A3+ members in December, Haiti can be assured of the group’s continued engagement on the question concerning Haiti.

I Thank You.