Haiti’s government directly accused the Dominican Republic, the United States, and Colombia for exacerbating its internal security crisis, alleging that these nations are key sources for the illegal arms and drug trafficking fueling widespread violence. The accusations were made during a special session of the Organization of American States (OAS) held in Washington on 22 May 2025, as a follow-up to the request of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the OAS take a leadership role in the Haitian multidimensional crisis.
Jean Michel Moïse, Haiti’s Minister of Defense, asserted that the severe security challenges that plague Haiti are not solely due to internal factors but are significantly driven by transnational criminal organizations operating across borders. He specifically highlighted the Dominican Republic as a critical entry point for illegal weaponry, describing the shared border as “highly porous” and susceptible to contraband.
“The Dominican Republic, with whom we share a long and vulnerable border, has become one of the main routes for the entry of weapons that end up fueling the armed conflict in our country,” stated Moïse. He further suggested the presence of corrupt elements facilitating the clandestine passage of these illegal shipments.
Moïse adamantly declared that Haiti neither produces weapons nor drugs, and that the pervasive violence is a direct consequence of illegal resources flowing in from abroad. He lamented that Haiti has become a pawn in a regional criminal enterprise, where international networks exploit Haitian gangs to control territory and move illicit goods.
The minister’s intervention was part of a symposium requested by the Haitian government itself before the OAS, aimed at discussing urgent solutions to the nation’s escalating insecurity and institutional collapse.
Regarding drug trafficking, Moïse identified Colombia as the primary origin of drugs transiting through Haitian territory. This, he argued, has fostered the consolidation of a “criminal economy” encompassing gangs, money laundering, human trafficking, and even organ trafficking. “Haiti is trapped in a regional organized crime machinery that surpasses our capabilities as a state,” he expressed.
Despite his criticisms, Moïse acknowledged the Dominican Republic’s efforts in supporting the reconstruction of Haiti’s armed forces. However, he stressed that without structural cooperation, Haiti cannot curb the advance of criminal networks or regain its sovereignty.
The minister appealed for strong international backing to bolster Haiti’s defense and security institutions. He requested assistance in training soldiers, establishing military bases, and acquiring modern equipment such as drones, helicopters, and coastal patrol vessels to effectively monitor both its coastlines and the border with the Dominican Republic.
“The restoration of Haitian sovereignty cannot be achieved in isolation. We need a collective effort to stop the flow of arms and drugs that fuel the violence,” Moïse emphasized, underscoring that Haiti’s crisis is, at its core, a threat to the entire region.
Concluding his remarks, Moïse insisted that the uncontrolled borders and the penetration of transnational crime mean that Haiti’s situation can no longer be treated as a localized problem. “The security of Haiti is also the security of the Caribbean. And the states of the region cannot remain indifferent to a crisis that has already crossed their own borders,” he asserted.
Speaking for the DR at the Symposium, the DR’s ambassador to the OAS, Mayerlyn Cordero Diaz, underscored the country’s commitment to regional stability.
She issued a fervent call for the international community to intensify efforts in addressing Haiti’s escalating humanitarian, institutional, and security crises.
Ambassador Cordero Díaz opened her remarks by thanking the Permanent Mission of Haiti to the OAS and the Secretariat for Multidimensional Security for organizing the symposium. She also commended the panelists for their insightful and clear analysis of the myriad challenges confronting Haiti.
“The stability and security of Haiti are inseparable from the stability and security of my country and the region,” the diplomat asserted, highlighting the interconnectedness of the nations. She emphasized that the crisis in Haiti represents not only a national security priority for the Dominican Republic but also a human, historical, and geographical imperative.
Cordero Díaz explained that Dominican authorities have been compelled to implement exceptional measures along the border to safeguard their territory from the collateral effects of Haiti’s institutional collapse.
The ambassador reiterated the country’s call for greater international commitment translated into an increase in both technical and financial support for Haiti.
“The fight against transnational organized crime must take center stage in this effort,” she stated, drawing attention to a critical aspect of the crisis. She also commended the coordinated work of Dominican authorities in strengthening institutional capacities and combating the illicit trafficking of weapons, an alarming phenomenon in Haiti.
During her address, Cordero Díaz also lauded cooperation with the OAS through the Central America and Dominican Republic Roadmap, which has served as a strategic guide for national actions in preventing the proliferation of weapons, ammunition, and explosives.
Cordero Díaz proposed that the OAS adopt a more proactive role in monitoring the Haitian situation and facilitating initiatives aimed at institutional strengthening. She expressed gratitude for Subsecretary Feinstein’s public acknowledgment of the Dominican Republic’s leadership and solidarity in keeping Haiti on the regional and international agenda.
While acknowledging that much remains to be done, the ambassador highlighted concrete progress in cooperation, political will, and regional commitment. “The key now is not to stop and continue working with firmness and solidarity to achieve a secure, stable Haiti with strengthened institutions,” she concluded, offering a vision of hope and continued effort.
The Organization of American States (OAS) and the Permanent Mission of Haiti to the OAS, hosted the symposium: “Finding Urgent Solutions for the Haiti Security Crisis,” in the Hall of the Americas at OAS Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
The event was opened by OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro and the President-Counselor of the Republic of Haiti, Smith Augustin, with the following speakers on the agenda:
· The Minister of Public Security and Justice of Haiti, Patrick Pélissier;
· The Minister of Defense of Haiti, Jean Michel Moïse;
· The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Caribbean Affairs and Haiti, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. State Department, Barbara Feinstein;
· The Haitian-born U.S. Army combat veteran and scholar of international relations and diplomacy, Rod Joseph, Ph.D.
· The Special Advisor on the Responsibility to Protect of the Organization of American States, Jared Genser; and
· The director of the Department against Transnational Organized Crime (DTOC) of the OAS, Gaston Schulmeister.
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Noticias SIN
23 May 2025