Dominican President Urges UN to Fully Fund and Deploy Haiti Security Mission

Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader urged the United Nations to take more decisive action in Haiti, calling for the full deployment of an international security force and stricter enforcement of sanctions to combat worsening gang violence. Speaking at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, Abinader warned that the crisis in his country's neighbor represents a direct national security threat.

A Call for Effective Action

Abinader stated that while the UN Security Council had approved the framework for an international force, it had not provided the means to make it effective. He stressed the need for the mission to be fully deployed, for the existing arms embargo to be strictly enforced, and for sanctions to be imposed on those financing the criminal gangs.

With the force's mandate set to expire next week, Abinader cautioned that "renewing without completing would be to prolong an unfulfilled promise." According to the report, the current mission has an authorized ceiling of 5,550 personnel, but only about one-fifth of that number has been deployed to date.

Regional Security at Risk

The Dominican leader highlighted the severe human cost of the violence, pointing to a recent attack in Kenscoff where at least 47 people, including children, were killed. The Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, has repeatedly warned that the unrest could destabilize the region.

Ad

Abinader was firm that "there is no Dominican solution" to Haiti's crisis. He affirmed that his government would continue to protect its border and enforce its migration laws while supporting the international intervention.

Dominican Contributions

President Abinader noted that the Dominican Republic has already contributed significantly to the effort. The country has provided financial support to the mission's fund, facilitated logistics and UN operations from its territory, cooperated with sanctions enforcement, and treated mission personnel in Dominican hospitals.

The appeal also included a call for stronger backing for Haiti's own institutions, including its police, armed forces, and justice system, to ensure that security can eventually be sustained domestically.