Santo Domingo.- The General Directorate of Customs (DGA) has suspended all import and export operations of merchandise to and from Haiti since 6:00 am on Friday, September 15. This decision was made in compliance with President Luis Abinader’s directives to close the Dominican Republic’s borders with Haiti.
Director of the DGA, Eduardo Sanz Lovatón, also known as “Yayo,” made this announcement on his social media platforms. He assured that the DGA offices and staff will take all necessary actions to ensure strict compliance with this directive.
This border closure applies to land, air, and sea routes, and is a direct response to the ongoing conflict regarding the construction of a canal to divert the Masacre River. The Dominican Government argues that this project violates international law and the Treaty of Peace and Perpetual Friendship and Arbitration of 1929. The closure is a result of the persistent efforts of a group of Haitian citizens to continue with this contested construction work.