In a landmark step toward deeper bilateral cooperation, top diplomatic officials from Haiti and the Dominican Republic gathered for a working meeting at the CODEVI Industrial Park in Ounaminthe on September 3, 2026, marking a new chapter in cross-border relations between the two neighboring Caribbean nations.
Haiti’s delegation was headed by Foreign Minister Raina Forbin, who was joined by a cohort of senior diplomatic representatives: Fritz Emmanuel Longchamp, Haiti’s ambassador to the Dominican Republic; Winnie Hugot Gabriel, Chief of Staff; Jean-Claude Lappé, Director of Political Affairs; Yves Rody Jean, Director of Dominican Affairs; and Ricot Almonord, Head of the Haitian Consular Post in Dajabón. Leading the Dominican delegation was Foreign Minister Víctor O. Bisonó Haza, accompanied by key officials including Rubén Silié, Vice Minister of Multilateral Foreign Policy; Francisco Caraballo, Vice Minister of Bilateral Foreign Policy; Ramón Pérez Fermín, Vice Minister in charge of Management and Operations of the Foreign Service; Faruk Miguel, Dominican Ambassador to Haiti; and Jatzel Román, Advisor to the Dominican Foreign Minister.
Talks centered on five critical shared priorities: enhancing border security, cracking down on cross-border illicit economic activity, addressing migration coordination, formalizing bilateral trade and investment frameworks, and expanding commercial air connectivity between the two countries. Both ministers reached consensus on the urgent need to reinforce existing cooperation mechanisms to upgrade border governance and migration management, with a core commitment to upholding the sovereign interests of both nations throughout all collaborative efforts.
Beyond border and economic issues, both delegations also underlined the critical importance of sustained international backing for the Haitian Gang Suppression Force (GSF). The two sides agreed to continue collective advocacy for the full operational deployment of the GSF—established under United Nations Security Council Resolution 2793—and to push for the renewal of the force’s mandate. These efforts are designed to support Haitian national authorities in restoring widespread public security, strengthening state institutional capacity, and laying the foundational conditions for long-term, lasting peace across Haiti.
On the topic of Dominican consular operations within Haiti, both parties reaffirmed their shared commitment to fully normalizing services as quickly as possible, once regional security conditions meet the threshold required for safe, consistent operation of consular facilities in their respective jurisdictions.
Following the formal bilateral working session, the two diplomatic delegations held a separate meeting with private sector stakeholders from both countries. Discussions in this session focused on expanding cross-border productive activity, generating new shared employment opportunities, accelerating mutually beneficial economic exchange, and leveraging the private sector as a core driver of stronger bilateral relations between the two nations.
The entire summit unfolded in a warm, cordial atmosphere, with both sides reaffirming their long-standing commitment to maintaining open, active bilateral dialogue as the primary channel for addressing shared challenges and advancing mutual interests. This commitment is rooted in a foundational spirit of mutual respect, targeted cooperation, and good neighborliness that will guide future engagement between Haiti and the Dominican Republic.