Dominican Republic–Haiti border

The island was first formally divided in 1697 as part of the Peace of Ryswick, under which Spain ceded to France the western portion it had seized by force earlier in the century.

The border then proceeds overland south-eastwards and south via various straight-line segments, also briefly utilising the Rivière Carrizal.

After decades of hostilities, mutual acknowledgement by France and Spain of their respective colonies, Saint-Domingue and Santo Domingo, was accomplished by way of the Peace of Ryswick in 1697.

[4] Despite this, Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo subsequently launched a wave of anti-Haitian violence in 1937, culminating in the Parsley massacre in which thousands of Haitians living in the DR were forced across the border or killed.

[13][14] Though relations since then have improved, the two countries remain deeply divided on demographic, political, racial, cultural and economic lines.

[19] According to human rights activists, mistreatment of Haitians has increased under DR president Luis Abinader, who took office in August 2020.

[21][22] The 3.9-metre-high (13 ft) concrete wall is 20-centimeter-thick, topped by a metal mesh, and contains fiber optics for communications, movement sensors, cameras, radar and drones,[21][23] with 70 watchtowers and 41 access gates for patrolling.

[25] The project is controversial, with claims that it will do little to reduce illegal migration, encourage bribery of Dominican Republic soldiers, and become a source of conflict.

This has become a source of tension, arising from claims that the area on the Haiti-facing side is a no-man's-land, or has been ceded to Haiti by virtue of the wall.

Construction by Haitian workers was underway on a canal intended to irrigate approximately 7,400 acres in Haiti's Maribaroux plain.

Dominican officials claimed the canal project violates a 1929 treaty which states both countries may use the water but not alter the river's natural course.