The UN places most Salvadoran soldiers in Haiti outside the mandate of the RGF

Most of the Salvadoran soldiers in Haiti do not belong to the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), which is backed by the United Nations. They therefore fall outside its mandate and accountability mechanism, according to AlterPresse. The media outlet cites UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, who provided this clarification on Monday, November 2, 2026.

What the UN says

According to AlterPresse, Stéphane Dujarric emphasized an institutional distinction. On one side, there are the Salvadoran soldiers who are part of the GSF. On the other, there is the vast majority of Salvadorans deployed in the country, who operate outside its framework. The AlterPresse dispatch is dated November 3, 2026. The text available to us ends before indicating the precise context of this clarification.

The GSF rejects explosive accusations

The day before, Sunday, November 1, 2026, Vant Bèf Info reported a statement from the GSF. In it, the force pushes back against accusations that the security forces deployed in Haiti are using explosive devices and carrying out aerial bombardments. These accusations notably referred to helicopter strikes.

According to Vant Bèf Info, the GSF maintains that its units do not possess any explosive devices for their operations. It specifies that this position also applies to the Salvadoran military personnel and aircraft placed under its command. It describes the allegations as "baseless."

The force further asserts that it acts in accordance with its rules of engagement, international human rights law, and law enforcement standards. It states that it places the protection of civilians at the center of its operations.

What remains to be verified

Vant Bèf Info points out that this stance represents the force's version of events. The precise circumstances of the facts mentioned in recent reports require independent verification. The sources consulted do not state which military personnel, Salvadoran or otherwise, might be involved in the accusations.