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Dominican Republic to close all borders with Haiti in a dispute over a canal
The Dominican Republic has decided to close all borders with Haiti due to a dispute over a canal project that would use water from a river along their shared frontier. This move, which includes the closure of air, sea, and land borders, will have a significant impact on both countries' economies, but especially on Haiti.
President Luis Abinader accuses Haiti of attempting to divert water from the Massacre River, which will harm Dominican farmers and the environment. In response, his administration has suspended issuing visas to Haitians, closed a border near Dajabon, and now fully closed the borders. However, the Haitian government claims that dialogue was already underway and views the Dominican president's actions as unilateral.
The closure of the border has resulted in significant losses for both countries, with goods spoiling and disruptions to the daily routine of people who live in Haiti but work in the Dominican Republic. Haitian farmers, represented by Jean Brévil Weston, refuse to give up the canal project and are willing to face any consequences, even death.