January 18, 2026
In response to the emotion sparked by the death of Sephora Anne-Mircie Joseph, an 11-year-old Haitian student who died during a school activity, Dominican authorities have intensified their communications. Interior Minister Faride Raful urged the population to remain calm, stressing that only the official conclusions will establish responsibility.
The investigation has been entrusted to two senior officials appointed by the presidential attorney general, Yeni Berenice Reynoso, to ensure a credible process. Initial internal findings indicate progress, but no final results have yet been released.
Security forces were quickly mobilized, notably during a meeting on the Citizen Security Plan in the province of San Cristóbal. DICRIM, the National Police and the Prosecutor’s Office are conducting joint investigations to reconstruct the events precisely.
Aware of the sensitivity of the case, Faride Raful called on the media and the public to “avoid any speculation,” reminding that the spread of unconfirmed information could generate unnecessary tension and deepen the family’s pain.
The minister insists on allowing institutions to do their work and urges everyone to await the official conclusions. She also calls on journalists to intensify their verification efforts to preserve responsible reporting in a particularly delicate context.
