December 23, 2024
Relations between Haiti and the Dominican Republic have encountered new tensions following the decision of Haitian authorities not to attend the inauguration ceremony of President Luis Abinader in the Dominican Republic, scheduled for August 16, 2024. It appears that an invitation was extended to the Presidential Transition Council and Prime Minister Garry Conille, both of whom declined. This decision comes amidst a backdrop of friction, marked by the unilateral closure of the airspace between the two countries since last February.
This closure, initiated by the Dominican Republic for security reasons, has significantly impacted trade and mobility between the two nations. In response, Haiti’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominique Dupuy, firmly expressed her dissatisfaction, demanding the immediate reopening of the airspace for all flights, without distinction between commercial and official flights. In her view, the unilateral closure imposed by the Dominican Republic must be lifted unconditionally.
In an attempt to reach a compromise, the Dominican Republic’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Roberto Alvarez, announced on his X account (formerly Twitter) that he had informed Dominique Dupuy that all flight requests from Haitian authorities would be immediately approved, including those for dignitaries invited to President Abinader’s inauguration.
In response, Dominique Dupuy emphasized that the reopening of the airspace should not be contingent upon bilateral negotiations. She stated that any request for reopening must apply to all Haitian citizens without exception, concluding that Haitian authorities should not enjoy a privilege that is not accessible to the Haitian people.