Dominican President Luis Abinader, supported by his predecessors Hipólito Mejía, Leonel Fernández, and Danilo Medina issued a formal appeal for a more robust and structured United Nations intervention in Haiti.
The call comes amid the continued deterioration of security conditions in the neighboring country.
The four leaders have sent official letters to major global powers — including the United States, China, Russia, France, and the United Kingdom — urging the transformation of the current Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) into a hybrid operation under direct UN command.
The initiative aligns with recommendations made by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who has advocated for greater UN involvement through logistical and operational management of the mission.
According to Dominican presidential spokesperson Homero Figueroa, the current MSS framework lacks the coordination, resources, and impact needed to effectively address Haiti’s urgent humanitarian and security needs, particularly concerning human rights and national stability.
Dominican authorities have warned of the growing influence of armed groups such as Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif, which they accuse of turning Haiti into a hub of transnational crime, drug trafficking, and a broader regional security threat.
The letters, delivered through permanent diplomatic missions to the United Nations, were also addressed to partner countries including South Korea, Pakistan, Algeria, and Denmark.
“The future of Haiti is also a matter of hemispheric security,” said Figueroa, calling on the UN Security Council to act before the end of June, when the current Kenyan-led deployment in Haiti is scheduled for rotation.
Despite historically complex relations between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, this coordinated appeal marks an unprecedented act of regional solidarity. Former Dominican heads of state, setting aside political divisions, have united in an effort to prevent the total collapse of the Haitian state and its potential repercussions throughout the Caribbean.
This joint statement follows the U.S. Department of State’s official designation of Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists. The designation, issued on Friday, May 2, 2025, was signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
According to Rubio, the gangs pose a direct threat to U.S. national security in the region and have “killed and continue to attack the Haitian population, Haitian security forces, and personnel with the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS).”
