SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, Oct. 24, CMC – The Dominican Republic says it has no immediate plans to close its border with Haiti or introduce extraordinary security measures despite escalating gang violence in the neighbouring country.
Defence Minister Lieutenant General Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre made the announcement following a high-level security meeting with senior military commanders and intelligence officials to assess developments in Haiti and their implications for national security.
The meeting, held earlier this week and attended by the heads of the Army, Navy, Air Force and specialised border security agencies, concluded that current conditions did not warrant a border closure or additional emergency measures.
The Defence Ministry said commercial activities, cross-border movement and daily life in border communities would continue as normal, although security forces would maintain heightened vigilance.
Fernández Onofre said the military remained committed to safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity while responding prudently to developments in Haiti.
Authorities said intelligence-sharing and regular security assessments would continue, allowing for preventive measures if circumstances changed.
Military personnel remain deployed in the border provinces of Pedernales and Elías Piña, where security forces are conducting inspections of people and vehicles entering and leaving Dominican territory.
In Jimaní, authorities reported no extraordinary security deployment linked to recent violence in Haiti.
Commercial activities have largely continued across the three border areas, with the movement of goods through Jimaní returning to normal on Thursday following three days of restrictions imposed by Haitian trade and transport groups.
The restrictions, which affected goods entering Haiti, were lifted following discussions between representatives of the affected sectors and Dominican authorities. The border crossing itself was never officially closed.
The security assessment comes amid reports of Haitian police operations against armed gangs in Croix-des-Bouquets, near the capital, Port-au-Prince.
Reports have indicated casualties among gang members, although official figures have not been confirmed.
Concerns have also emerged over the reported disappearance of four Salvadoran military personnel attached to the international security mission in Haiti. Their whereabouts remain unconfirmed.
Dominican authorities said they would continue monitoring developments while seeking to maintain security and preserve economic activity along the shared border.
CMC/dr/kb/2026