In a move that signals both hope and urgency for Haiti’s embattled security landscape, 143 Haitian soldiers—including 15 women and 128 men—returned home this weekend after completing an intensive eight-week military training program in Mexico. The soldiers’ arrival on September 21, 2025, comes at a pivotal moment for the Caribbean nation, which continues to reel from escalating gang violence and political instability following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.
The training, held in San Miguel de los Jagüeyes, Mexico, was the result of a bilateral agreement between Haiti and Mexico. According to HaitiLibre, the first contingent of the Forces Armées d’Haïti (FAd’H) left for Mexico in July 2025, embarking on a program designed to "strengthen their operational and strategic capabilities to enable them to actively contribute to the restoration of security throughout the national territory." The Haitian government, as reported by the Associated Press, announced the deployment as part of a broader plan to build up national security forces at a time when the country is desperate for stability.
During the training, participants practiced personal defense and shooting, but the curriculum also included lessons on human rights—a critical component given the fraught history of Haiti’s military and its role in the nation’s past political upheavals. The program, led by the Mexican army, aimed to instill modern military discipline and a respect for civilian rights, reflecting a shift from the country’s turbulent military legacy.
The stakes could hardly be higher. Since President Moïse’s assassination, gangs have surged in power, now controlling an estimated 90% of Port-au-Prince, the capital, and spreading their influence into rural areas. Their activities have paralyzed daily life, forced thousands from their homes, and made any semblance of normal governance nearly impossible. The return of these newly trained soldiers is being viewed by Haitian officials and international observers alike as a crucial step toward reversing the country’s security decline.
“This training aimed to strengthen their operational and strategic capabilities to enable them to actively contribute to the restoration of security throughout the national territory, an essential condition for the success of the priority projects of the transition,” HaitiLibre reported. The soldiers’ mission, upon their return, is nothing less than to help restore order in a nation where the rule of law has all but collapsed.
But optimism is tempered by the daunting scale of the challenge. Despite the presence of a Kenya-led multinational force currently deployed in Haiti, violence remains largely unchecked. According to the Associated Press, the multinational mission has struggled to contain the gangs, prompting the United States and Panama to urge the United Nations Security Council to authorize a much larger force—5,550 members strong—with the explicit mandate to detain gang members and restore security. The plan, if approved, would transform the current Kenya-led force into a more robust international intervention.
The context for this latest military initiative is rooted in Haiti’s recent history. The country’s armed forces were disbanded in 1995 following a coup that ousted former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. The military’s dissolution was seen as a necessary step to curb abuses and end its interference in politics. For over two decades, Haiti relied on United Nations peacekeepers to maintain order. But when the U.N. ended its peacekeeping operations in 2017, the country was left with a security vacuum. That same year, President Moïse reinstated the army, hoping to create a national institution capable of defending Haiti’s sovereignty and supporting internal stability.
Yet, rebuilding a professional, accountable military from the ground up is no easy task. The recent training in Mexico represents one of the most substantial efforts to date. The inclusion of women in the contingent is also notable, reflecting a broader push for gender inclusion in Haiti’s security sector. The soldiers’ education in human rights is intended to ensure that the new force does not repeat the abuses of its predecessor.
The bilateral agreement with Mexico demonstrates the growing role of regional partners in Haiti’s security crisis. Mexico, with its own long history of military professionalism and recent experience in handling complex security challenges, provided not just tactical training but also a model of civil-military relations that Haitian leaders hope to emulate. The closing ceremony in San Miguel de los Jagüeyes was marked by both celebration and solemnity, as the soldiers prepared to return to a country still in the grip of chaos.
For the Haitian government, the return of these troops is a cornerstone of its strategy to reclaim control from gangs and restore public confidence. The timing is critical: with international attention focused on Haiti’s plight and calls for more substantial intervention growing louder, the government needs to demonstrate that it is taking concrete steps to address the crisis. The soldiers’ deployment is expected to support priority projects during the national transition, including efforts to secure key infrastructure, protect vulnerable populations, and enable humanitarian aid to reach those in need.
Still, many observers caution that military training alone will not be enough. The roots of Haiti’s crisis run deep, encompassing not just security but also political, economic, and social dimensions. The country remains mired in poverty, with weak institutions and widespread mistrust of authority. Without comprehensive reforms and sustained international support, even the best-trained soldiers may find themselves overwhelmed by the scale of the challenge.
At the same time, the soldiers’ return offers a glimmer of hope. Their presence could help tilt the balance in favor of the state, at least in some areas, and provide a measure of reassurance to ordinary Haitians who have lived under the shadow of violence for far too long. The next few months will be critical in determining whether this new force can make a meaningful difference—or whether Haiti will continue its slide into lawlessness.
As the country awaits the outcome of international deliberations at the United Nations, one thing is clear: the fate of Haiti’s security, and by extension its future, will depend on the combined efforts of its own institutions and the support of the global community. For now, the eyes of Haiti—and the world—are on these 143 soldiers as they begin their most important mission yet.