Annual bilateral summary highlights RAID-led training, specialized gear for PNH units, and major investments in health, education, and gang repression
Port-au-Prince, Haiti – March 5, 2026 In its annual summary of bilateral cooperation, the French Embassy in Haiti highlighted significant progress in security assistance to the Haitian National Police (PNH) throughout 2025.
According to the official communiqué released on March 4, France delivered four tons of specialized equipment to various PNH units and trained more than 400 officers from key specialized branches through eleven dedicated training sessions.
The equipment and training targeted elite units including the SWAT, UTAG (Temporary Anti-Gang Unit), POLIFRONT (Border Police), BOID (Departmental Intervention Brigade), and BRI (Research and Intervention Brigade). Several sessions received direct support from elite units of the French National Police, notably the RAID (Research, Assistance, Intervention, and Deterrence) and OFAST (Anti-Narcotics and Anti-Terrorism Central Office).
This security cooperation forms one pillar of France’s broader €45 million (approximately $52 million USD, based on early 2026 exchange rates around 1 EUR ≈ 1.16 USD) commitment to Haiti in 2025. The allocation breaks down as follows:
- Humanitarian aid: €17 million (≈ $19.7 million USD) for displaced persons, school feeding programs reaching 80,000 students, and emergency nutrition support.
- Development projects: €22 million (≈ $25.5 million USD) through the French Development Agency (AFD), focusing on health, education, governance, and agriculture.
- Cultural and academic programs: €1 million (≈ $1.16 million USD).
- Additional contributions: €3.5 million (≈ $4.06 million USD) to the UN Trust Fund supporting the new Gang Repression Force (FRG), which is replacing the Multinational Security Support Mission.
Independent reports confirmed key aspects of the timeline: In June 2025, four tons of specialized equipment arrived in Port-au-Prince, followed by RAID instructors leading practical sessions on operational command and interventions in hostile environments for PNH officers.
French officials described the efforts as technical capacity-building to assist Haitian authorities in addressing gang violence and territorial control. The training and equipment are seen as critical steps toward restoring state authority in gang-dominated areas.
This cooperation reflects France’s long-standing partnership with Haiti and its continued support for security stabilization, humanitarian relief, and sustainable development amid the country’s ongoing challenges.
L’Union Suite commends the tangible progress in bilateral assistance and will continue tracking the impact of these programs on security, education, and community resilience.
France stands with Haiti, capacity building today, stability tomorrow.
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