Haiti, Dominican Republic reopen airspace after months of strained ties

Haiti and the Dominican Republic reopened their shared airspace Friday following months of strained relations, amid escalating violence in Haiti and the expansion of territorial control by criminal gangs.

The agreement was signed at an industrial park along the border with delegations from both countries. The airspace closure had been ordered in 2024 under instructions from Dominican President Luis Abinader, in response to the violence affecting Haiti, with which the Dominican Republic shares a 243-mile (391-kilometer) border.

A joint statement said the measure aims to “facilitate mobility, boost economic relations, and strengthen ties between the two countries," with flights set to resume in May.

The delegations acknowledged the international community’s support in assisting Haiti in dismantling gang power, a key factor in the reopening of the shared airspace, and in a statement “expressed their gratitude to the international community for its support in efforts to assist Haitian authorities in restoring peace in the Republic of Haiti, particularly the United Nations and the Anti-Gang Task Force (FRG), within the framework of their decisions and actions aimed at restoring conditions of security, institutional stability, and peace for the population,”

The agreement brings an end to years of tensions and repeated requests from Haitian authorities to reopen the airspace. It also comes amid a campaign led by Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime against criminal gangs that continue to exert strong control, particularly in the capital.

In recent months, Haiti has undergone significant internal changes. In February, the Transitional Presidential Committee was dissolved after one year as the country’s governing body, with Fils-Aime now serving as head of state.

UN-backed troops were deployed on April 1 to Haiti to combat criminal gangs. The Gang Suppression Force (GSF) is expected to reach up to 5,500 personnel and will remain for the next 12 months.

Estimates indicate that up to 90% of the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince remains under criminal control.