Haitian interim Foreign Minister Dominique Dupuy on Thursday denounced “discriminatory measures” by the Dominican Republic authorities after the latter announced the expulsion of 10,000 irregular Haitians each week, claiming that the objective is to prioritize security in its territory.
“We take note of the announcement made on October 2, 2024 by the Dominican authorities on a series of discriminatory measures that provide for the mass deportation of up to 10,000 Haitian nationals per week,” she said in a statement published on her social network profile X.
Dupuy has urged “respect for the inalienable rights of every child, every woman and every man subject to this regrettable,” in accordance with the international treaties and agreements that regulate the matter. “We will accelerate the strengthening of the capacities of our diplomatic mission to adequately serve our fellow citizens,” she added.
The head of Haitian diplomacy has announced that she will meet with civil society organizations and international agencies operating in the border area to define a support strategy for those affected.
The Dominican Republic, which shares a border with Haiti and where there are around half a million Haitians according to the latest data from 2017, announced this measure to “reduce the excess of migrant population that is perceived in Dominican communities” and assured that it would do so “under strict protocols that ensure respect for Human Rights.”
The Dominican president, Luis Abinader, explained that mass deportations are “special measures” taken in the absence of “rapid” action. “What we hope is that the countries that committed themselves in the international community to help in the pacification and security control in Haiti do so,” he declared.
Haiti has been without a president since a group of armed men stormed his official residence and assassinated Jovenel Moise in early July 2021. Shortly afterwards, Ariel Henry rose to the post of prime minister amid criticism and after several years of instability. In March of this year, he resigned following the wave of violence that shook the Caribbean nation.
The Transitional Presidential Council, led by the former top representative of the Haitian Senate between 1995 and 2000, Edgard Leblanc, ended up appointing Conille on June 3 to carry out this task of pacification as head of government. Recently, his cabinet announced the creation of a Provisional Electoral Council, a body in charge of organizing the holding of the first elections in the country in a decade, since the elections are scheduled for 2026 and the last ones were held in 2016.
