The Dominican Republic has announced a partial reopening of its border with Haiti, a month after it was initially closed. The reopening aims to reactivate exports to Haiti but will continue to block migration “indefinitely,” according to Homero Figueroa, the spokesperson for the Dominican Government. The decision was made after a meeting of the National Security Council and was shared with media outlets near the border.
The border crossings are set to resume on October 11, starting at 08:00 local time (12:00 GMT). The Dominican Republic will enforce “strict military control” at these crossings. Figueroa also revealed plans to establish “temporary trade corridors with strict military control measures and biometric registration” to facilitate the trade of essential Dominican products like food and medicine, particularly for children.
Haitian authorities have called for dialogue to resolve the ongoing conflict over the construction of a canal intended to divert water from the Masacre River, which flows between the two countries. A press release from Haiti stated that a satisfactory outcome of negotiations would involve the “equitable distribution of water resources” and the normalization of relations between the two nations.
The Dominican Republic’s decision comes ahead of a potential United Nations international mission to Haiti. Figueroa stated that the Dominican Republic would “strengthen the militarization of the border to make it even more difficult for (Haitian) gang members fleeing the multinational force to access our territory.”
Haiti is the Dominican Republic’s second-largest trading partner, receiving 8.4% of its exports, which totaled approximately $1,040 million in 2022. Despite this, the Dominican Republic has prohibited the export of electronic products, cement, rods, and other construction materials to Haiti, according to Barrons. This move is aimed at preventing the construction of structures that could pose environmental risks, particularly the controversial canal intended to divert water from the Masacre River.
President Luis Abinader, who is currently seeking re-election, labeled the canal construction as a “provocation.” Figueroa confirmed that the Dominican Republic would “maintain the border closure against immigration indefinitely” and “indefinitely extend the suspension of the issuance of visas to Haitian citizens.”
The economic and political turmoil in Haiti, exacerbated by gang violence, has led to an increased flow of Haitians, most of whom are undocumented, into the Dominican Republic. In response, the Dominican Republic has escalated raids and constructed a border barrier.
In September, the Dominican Republic had dismissed concerns raised by William O’Neill, the UN-appointed expert for human rights in Haiti. O’Neill had warned of “serious repercussions” for both countries due to the border closure. The Dominican government responded by stating that any dialogue with Haiti would be conditional on the “effective cessation of the unilateral and illegal construction of the canal.”
The Dominican Republic also expressed its disappointment with the United Nations for not adequately addressing the “serious humanitarian, security, and political crisis” that has plagued Haiti for years.
The partial reopening of the border marks a complex chapter in the relationship between the Dominican Republic and Haiti, fraught with economic, environmental, and humanitarian considerations. As both countries navigate these multifaceted issues, the international community will be closely watching the developments, especially with the potential involvement of a United Nations mission in Haiti.
