Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader issued a stark warning at the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, threatening “drastic measures” to protect his country if the U.N.-backed anti-gang mission in neighboring Haiti fails.
Abinader, addressing world leaders in New York, did not specify what actions his administration might take. His comments underscore growing regional concerns about Haiti’s deteriorating security situation, where gangs control approximately 80% of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
The Dominican leader expressed gratitude to Kenya for leading the mission in Haiti, with nearly 400 Kenyan police officers recently joined by personnel from Jamaica and Belize. However, he noted that the current deployment falls significantly short of the 2,500 personnel pledged by various countries.
Abinader emphasized the necessity for the mission to be fully established to enable free and transparent elections in Haiti, which has not held polls since 2016. “Practically one year from the holding of elections, the conditions are still not in place to do so,” he stated, adding, “We cannot allow the effort made to date to fail. If that were to happen, Haiti’s collapse would be imminent.”
The president highlighted the strain Haiti’s instability has placed on the Dominican Republic, citing that 10% of medical appointments in his country last year involved Haitians, and 147,000 of 200,000 foreign minors in the Dominican education system are of Haitian origin.
Abinader’s administration has faced criticism for its treatment of Haitians, with government data showing over 170,000 deportations of individuals believed to be Haitian last year. The U.N.’s International Organization for Migration estimates this number to be closer to 224,000.
The speech comes as the U.S. government warns that the Haiti mission lacks resources, with discussions ongoing about a possible U.N. peacekeeping mission. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with officials at the U.N. to discuss the mission’s status, contributions, and future deployments.
As Haiti’s crisis deepens, with over 3,600 reported killings in the first half of this year and nearly 700,000 Haitians displaced, Abinader’s warnings reflect growing regional anxiety about the potential for further instability in the Caribbean.
The situation remains fluid, with the international community watching closely as efforts to stabilize Haiti continue amid escalating violence and political uncertainty.
