SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader announced on Tuesday that his government is providing logistical and intelligence support to El Salvador as approximately 2,500 Salvadoran troops engage in efforts to combat violent gangs in Haiti. This collaboration comes amid scrutiny of the Salvadoran troops’ operations, which operate outside the umbrella of a U.N.-backed, multinational gang suppression force.
During his remarks, Abinader emphasized the importance of coordination between the Salvadoran military and the gang suppression force to enhance operational effectiveness. He stated, “We must decisively support the Salvadoran military and the attitude of President Bukele.”
Igor Rugwiza, a spokesperson for the gang suppression force, confirmed that the group is working closely with Haitian authorities and international partners to align security efforts. He stated that effective coordination among all security actors in Haiti is vital for achieving long-term security outcomes and that the force operates in compliance with its mandate and applicable human rights laws.
Recently, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele lauded an operation by Salvadoran troops and Haitian police targeting Wilson Joseph, aka Lanmò San Jou, the leader of the 400 Mawozo gang. This attack was celebrated by Bukele on social media, although Joseph survived the assault.
Abinader reiterated his commitment to assisting Bukele, noting ongoing communications between El Salvador’s defense minister and his Dominican counterpart. Meanwhile, Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé plans to meet with Salvadoran officials next week to discuss the role of Salvadoran troops in Haiti.
A spokesperson for Abinader declined to detail the specific types of aid provided by the Dominican Republic to El Salvador. Human rights organization Amnesty International urged both governments to ensure operations conducted by Salvadoran troops are in line with international human rights standards. Ana Piquer, Director of Amnesty International’s Americas division, called for transparency regarding the operational agreement governing Salvadoran troops and oversight measures.
The Dominican Republic shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, where Abinader has pledged to enhance border security through various means including drones and armored vehicles. He has vowed to respond decisively to any activity that threatens the stability of the Dominican Republic.
The recent deployment of troops from El Salvador follows an incident on October 18 when four Salvadoran aviation technicians were attacked while in gang-affected areas, and they remain missing. Experts have raised concerns about the overwhelming presence of security forces in Haiti and the complexities of coordinating these efforts. Some noted that, while there is positive sentiment among Haitians towards Salvadoran troops, casualties among civilians during anti-gang operations have raised alarms about the current strategy.
“We’re uncertain of the coordination mechanisms at play,” said Sophie Rutenbar, a senior expert at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. She emphasized the need for Salvadoran troops to collaborate with the gang suppression force for resource benefits and effective tactical operations.
