N’DJAMENA, Chad (AP) — Chad will deploy 1,500 troops to Haiti as part of the United Nations security force to the Caribbean country to combat gang violence, according to a letter from the president to the legislature.
In the letter read out to lawmakers of the Central African country on Monday, Chadian President Mahamat Déby Itno said two battalions of 750 troops each will be deployed from this month for one year, following a request by the United Nations.
“A contingent of 400 men has already been sent to Haiti as part of this mission that honors Chad and its defense and security forces,” the president said.
Last year, the U.N. Security Council approved the expansion of the Kenya-led multinational force in Haiti to 5,500 troops, called the Gang Suppression Force, and expanded its power to include arresting suspected gang members, which the previous force did not have.
The previous mission, launched in 2023, was envisioned to include 2,500 personnel and was led by the Kenyan police, but it was handicapped by a lack of staff and funds.
Deadly gangs control as much as 90% of Port-au-Prince, the country's capital, and swaths of land in the country’s central region. In 2021, a squad of gunmen assassinated the country's former president, Jovenel Moïse, in his home.
At least 30 people were killed and dozens more were missing, human rights groups said, after the Gran Grif gang launched a renewed attack on the town of Petite-Rivière de l’Artibonite, in central Haiti, last month.
FILE - Chadian President Mahamat Deby Itno participates in his inauguration ceremony in N'djamena, Chad, May 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Mouta Ali, File)
Workers ride in a cargo truck transporting cement in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph)
Vehicles crowd an intersection in the Delmas neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Friday, April 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph)
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Rebecca Leslie scored the winning goal with 56 seconds left on Monday night to give the Ottawa Charge a 2-1 win over the Montreal Victoire to force a Game 4 in the best-of-five Walter Cup Final.
The Victoire, with two overtime wins on home ice, lead the best-of-five series 2-1. Game 4 is Wednesday in Ottawa.
Leslie found Sarah Wozniewicz's rebound and fired it through traffic to beat Ann-Renee Desbiens, who made 26 saves.
Montreal challenged the goal for a missed stoppage in play but after a lengthy review the goal stood, sending the playoff record crowd of 16,894 into a frenzy.
Trailing 1-0 Ottawa tied the game when Peyton Hemp picked up a loose puck and beat a sprawled out Desbiens for her first of the postseason with 5:30 remaining in the third period.
Montreal opened the scoring at 7:32 of the third when Maureen Murphy rifled a shot off the back boards and Hayley Scamurra picked up the rebound and beat Gwyneth Philips, who stopped 27 shots.
Ottawa started the third on the power play but generated just one shot.
The teams exchanged chances minutes later with Hemp trying to beat Desbiens at the side of the net and then Montreal’s Kaitlin Willoughby trying to beat Philips from in close.
The game remained scoreless after 40 minutes.
AP women’s hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey
Montreal Victoire forward Hayley Scamurra (16) scores against Ottawa Charge goalie Gwyneth Philips (33) as Victoire forward Lina Ljungblom (25) watches during the third period of Game 3 in the PWHL Walter Cup finals hockey series in Ottawa, Ontario, Monday May 18, 2026. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Victoire defense Nicole Gosling (61) looks on as goalie Ann-Renee Desbiens (35) battles Ottawa Charge forward Emily Clark (26) for the puck during the second period of Game 3 in the PWHL Walter Cup finals hockey series in Ottawa, Ontario, Monday May 18, 2026. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Victoire's Maggie Flaherty (91) leans over Ottawa Charge goaltender Gwyneth Philips, center bottom, as she looks for the puck at the net during the first period of Game 3 in the PWHL Walter Cup finals hockey series in Ottawa, Ontario, Monday May 18, 2026. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)
Ottawa Charge goalie Gwyneth Philips, left, celebrates with teammates after defeating the Montreal Victoire in Game 3 of the PWHL Walter Cup finals hockey series in Ottawa, Ontario, Monday May 18, 2026. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
Ottawa Charge forward Rebecca Leslie (37) celebrates after her winning goal against the Montreal Victoire with teammates during the third period of Game 3 in the PWHL Walter Cup finals hockey series in Ottawa, Ontario, Monday May 18, 2026. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
