Haitian officials refuse to attend Abinader’s inauguration amid airspace dispute, stoking diplomatic tensions

PORT-AU-PRINCE — The Haitian government has announced it will not attend the inauguration of Dominican President Luís Abinader on Aug. 16 in response to the Dominican Republic’s recent measures to unilaterally close the airspace between the two nations. This move is the latest, in a series of actions that add to the ongoing strain in the historically troubled relationship between the two neighboring countries, contributing to a complex diplomatic situation.

“The prime minister and the president of the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) will not participate in the inauguration ceremony of the Dominican president,” Haitian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominique Dupuy confirmed to The Haïtian Times in a telephone conversation. She did not make any further comment about the government’s decision.

The latest measures by the Dominican Republic have resurfaced, directly impacting the participation of Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille and members of the CPT at the inauguration of Abinader, who was elected for a second term. Closed for security reasons since late February, the Dominican authorities have refused to lift restrictions on flights from Haiti, a stance that has played a significant role in the Haitian government’s decision to decline the DR government’s invitation. The resulting backlash exacerbated an already strained relationship and fueled further the long-standing diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

Dominican Chancellor Roberto Alvarez has refuted claims of the airspace closure between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, asserting in a recent tweet that Haitian airspace remains open for officials, and humanitarian flights but that it remains closed to commercial flights for security reasons.

 “ I added that for security reasons, the airspace between #RepDom and #Haiti remains closed for commercial flights, but not for official, humanitarian or similar flights. In addition, I asked our ambassador to Haiti to visit the Haitian Foreign Ministry and reiterate this,” Alvarez said on his  X account. “There is no overflight obstacle whatsoever that impedes the Haitian authorities from attending President Abinader’s inauguration. It would have been a unique opportunity to start the dialogue with the transitional government.”

A source close to the CPT President Edgard Leblanc, who requested anonymity, also confirmed to The Haitian Times that the refusal to attend Abinader’s inauguration is linked with the ongoing closure of the airspace between the two countries.

“The prime minister and the president of the presidential transitional council will not participate in the inauguration ceremony of the Dominican president.”

Dominique Dupuy, Haitian Minister of Foreign Affairs. 

The decision has caused discontent on the other side of the island. Dominican officials, including Foreign Minister Alvarez, have made several attempts to clarify the situation by referencing a conversation he had with Minister Dupuy, suggesting that the issue might be more complex than it appears on the surface. 

“On August 1, during a phone conversation with the Haitian Chancellor, she inquired whether it was necessary to lift the airspace closure so they could attend President Abinader’s inauguration. I assured her that any flight request from Haitian authorities would be immediately authorized, just like those of other invited dignitaries,” the Dominican Chancellor shared on his X account.

However, the Dominican authorities are holding firm on their decision to keep the airspace closed, offering instead to open a specific air corridor for official flights. This would allow Haitian dignitaries to attend President Abinader’s inauguration, a move seen as a diplomatic snub in Haiti. 

The position has sparked significant backlash, with Foreign Minister Dupuy emphasizing that any request for reopening must apply to all citizens without exception. She asserted that Haitian authorities should not benefit from privileges that are not extended to the Haitian people.

This diplomatic impasse follows heightened tensions triggered by the construction of a canal on the Haïtian side of the Massacre River, which led to Dominican President Abinader taking different measures to force Haïtians to suspend work, including the closure of the Dominican borders in September last year. Air travel to and from Haiti was forced to be suspended due to the escalation of gang violence in Port-au-Prince on February 29. While other countries resumed services, the Dominican Republic maintained the airspace restriction. 

Haitians on social media reacted positively to Minister Dupuy’s stance applauding her for finally showing that the Haitian government is taking a firm position against the Dominican authorities. Legal experts have also weighed on the issue analyzing the broader implications of the Haïtian government’s response to the Dominican Republic action.

“The government’s decision is an exemplary demonstration of the sovereignty of the Haitian State under international law because, by refusing to subordinate the reopening of the airspace, it relies on Article 2 of the United Nations Charter, which recognizes the principle of equal sovereignty of states,” said a former Croix-des-Bouquets substitute for the government commissioner who requested anonymity.

Reacting to Dupuy’s comment that authorities should not benefit from privileges not extended to the Haitian people, the former government substitute said that by taking this stance, Haitian authorities are rejecting a privilege denied to the broader population. He referenced Article 1.2 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which, he emphasized, prohibits discrimination in the enjoyment of rights and freedoms.

Teachers familiar with the history of both countries have pointed out that this moment could set a precedent for how Haiti navigates its relationship with its neighbor moving forward.

“The refusal to go is a step. But I expect much more from the country’s authorities,” says Gérard Duclos, a history teacher at several schools in the Haitian capital. He further criticizes the situation, noting that while the airspace is closed, Dominican army helicopters continue to fly between the Dominican Republic and the Dominican embassy in Port-au-Prince without any control.

“The authorities at the highest level of the State must address this anomaly with urgency,” he concludes.

Twenty-four hours before the inaugural ceremony, the Haitian government has not officially confirmed whether the Charge d’Affaires in the Dominican Republic will attend the event.

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Haitian officials refuse to attend Abinader’s inauguration amid airspace dispute, stoking diplomatic tensions was first posted on August 15, 2024 at 11:14 am.