President Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic has issued a stern warning to armed gangs in Haiti, stating that they will face severe repercussions if they attempt to approach the nation’s border. His remarks come as the Dominican government intensifies military deployments and surveillance in response to escalating gang activity.
During a press conference, Abinader outlined the government’s heightened security measures, particularly in the southern region along the border where armed groups are known to operate. “We have significantly strengthened the border, particularly in the south, where gangs operate. This reinforcement includes an increase in personnel, as well as the deployment of armored vehicles and equipment,” he stated.
The security initiatives also involve aerial reconnaissance and the utilization of drones to monitor any movements close to the border. “We have aircraft flying over the border, armored vehicles stationed nearby, and we also have drones at our disposal,” Abinader noted.
The president emphasized that any gang members approaching the Dominican border would be treated as terrorists. “We will treat them as what they are: terrorists, if they approach the border,” he said, warning that they would have “a very, very bad time” should they attempt to breach the territory.
Abinader also revealed discussions with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele regarding potential cooperative measures to combat armed groups in Haiti. He mentioned that his government is in contact with El Salvador’s Gang Suppression Force (GSF) for logistical support and intelligence sharing, although he did not detail the specific contributions the Dominican Republic would make or the exact nature of the proposed collaboration.
He clarified that there are no plans to deploy Dominican troops for direct operations within Haiti. Addressing concerns over a possible surge in Haitian migration due to ongoing violence, Abinader indicated that there have not been observable increases in border crossings related to the security crisis. “What we are observing is that several specific locations in Haiti, where these terrorists are based, are set to be targeted by Haitian security forces,” he said.
The Dominican Republic shares a 391-kilometre land border with Haiti, which has been affected by the increasing territorial control of gangs and a persistent security crisis. Regional and international efforts are underway to bolster Haiti’s security forces and mitigate gang violence.
