On January 20, following the interception and seizure by the Dominican army of a vehicle transporting Haitian citizens in an irregular migratory situation in the Santiago Rodríguez region, a group of Haitians blocked the international highway linking the Dominican Republic to Haiti, near the border town of Tirolí. This blockage prevented Dominicans from the localities of Guayajayuco and Carata, as well as the surrounding areas, from moving freely.

The action of the demonstrators, which notably consisted of burning tires and placing trees across the road, aimed to put pressure on the Dominican authorities to obtain the return of the seized vehicle, as well as a sum of money which the authorities also seized during their intervention.

This is not the first incident of this kind on the Dominican-Haitian border, a particularly unstable area. Roadblocks erected by Haitians, often linked to smuggling or illegal trafficking, have become a recurring method of pressure, compromising the security and mobility of Dominican border communities.

The tense situation has aroused concern among Dominicans living on the border who have requested the direct intervention of President Luis Abinader. To date, no official statement has been made by Dominican authorities regarding measures to clear the road, forcing residents of these communities to cross a local river to leave their homes and avoid finding themselves hostage to the protests.

TB/ iciHaiti