Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has held talks with Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader in Santo Domingo, which saw the Caribbean nation reaffirm its support for the Kenya-led peace mission in Haiti.

In a statement posted on his official X account on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, Mudavadi revealed that the meeting took place at the National Palace and focused on regional peace and security.

During the high-level talks, Mudavdi, who also doubles up as Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Minister, conveyed a message of appreciation from President William Ruto for the Dominican Republic’s steadfast backing of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM) in Haiti, which Kenya is leading under a UN Security Council mandate.

“Had a productive conversation with Dominican Republic’s President Luis Abinader, at Palacio Nacional in Santo Domingo, where I conveyed President William Ruto’s gratitude for the Caribbean nation’s strong support to the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti,” Mudavadi wrote.

Mudavadi briefed the Dominican president on recent developments from Kenya’s diplomatic engagements in Washington, DC, as well as outcomes from the MSSM donor roundtable held in Santo Domingo.

According to Mudavadi, Abinader reaffirmed his country’s commitment to the Haiti stabilisation efforts and proposed closer collaboration with Brazil to rally regional and international support for the mission.

“I shared outcomes from recent engagements in Washington, D.C., and the MSSM donor roundtable in Santo Domingo. President Abinader reaffirmed his commitment to advancing the Mission’s success and proposed closer collaboration with Brazil to bolster support for Haiti,” the statement further reads.

The duo also discussed key regional security issues, including the ongoing conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and the broader situation in the Horn of Africa.

“We exchanged views on regional peace and security, including developments in Eastern DRC and the Horn of Africa,” the statement added.

The meeting was also attended by the Dominican Republic’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Roberto Álvarez, Vice Minister for Bilateral Relations, Ambassador Francisco Caraballo, and Brigadier General Mao Enua Gómez, who heads the Ministry’s Security Department.

MoU signed

This meeting comes after Mudavadi and Roberto Alvarez on May 13, 2025, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Santo Domingo, which focuses on medical evacuation, repatriation of wounded persons and bodies, as well as logistical access to Dominican territory for Kenyan personnel and members of the MSSM in Haiti.

Speaking after the signing, the two leaders stressed that the situation in neighbouring Haiti significantly impacts the security of the Dominican Republic and other Caribbean nations, stating that it is the responsibility of the international community to restore peace and stability in Haiti.

Mudavadi, on his part, noted that the agreement reiterates the government’s commitment to supporting the MSS Mission by establishing evacuation protocols and ensuring the safety and well-being of Kenyan personnel in Haiti.

“We appreciate the cooperation of the Dominican Republic in the MSS Mission, which highlights the importance and value of nations coming together to achieve sustainable peace in the region for the greater good of humanity,” he stated.

Álvarez added that the MoU represents a genuine commitment to those who risk their lives for a safer future in Haiti and the region.

“We are deeply satisfied to have provided medical care to about 20 MSS members, offering them the respectful, dignified and compassionate care they deserve for their exemplary courage and sacrifice in support of a brotherly nation and regional security,” he remarked.

Stronger ties

In an earlier statement, Mudavadi disclosed that the Kenyan government is exploring talks with the Dominican Republic about establishing direct flights between Nairobi and Santo Domingo to enhance economic ties between the two nations.

“The conversation also touched on the potential for direct flights between Nairobi and Santo Domingo, a move that would significantly boost economic and people-to-people ties,” the May 14 statement referenced.

Furthermore, Mudavadi had discussions with the Dominican Republic’s Minister for Industry, Commerce, and MSMEs, Ito Bison, regarding new opportunities in trade and investment between the two countries.

“We discussed linking our chambers of commerce to unlock value-addition ventures, especially in coffee, horticulture, and other high-potential exports, targeting the European Union and American markets,” the statement added.