Protests continued against President Moïse’s govt over alleged corruption including misuse of funds from PetroCaribe (alliance giving Caribbean states access to cheap Venezuelan oil) involving alleged $2bn embezzlement. Two demonstrators shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Arcahaie city (centre) 11 Sept; death toll over twenty since demonstrations over increase in fuel prices began in July. UN Assistant-Secretary General of Peacekeeping Operations Bintou Keita 6 Sept warned of “high risk” of “major unrest” in country. Haitians continue to leave country en masse while others face deportation from Dominican Republic and U.S. due to ending of migration schemes.

Following July protests over increased fuel prices that left twenty dead, President Moïse 6 Aug appointed Jean-Henry Céant as new PM. Instances of unrest continued; unidentified attackers reportedly threw grenades and fired shots at parliament 20 Aug and at home of senate president 29 Aug. Shootout between Haitian civilians and Dominican soldiers at border crossing Carrizal 19 Aug left six civilians and one soldier wounded; PM Céant accused Dominican forces of violating Haitian territory. Dominican National Plan for Regularization of Foreigners expired 26 Aug leaving nearly 200,000 Haitians at risk of deportation, raising concerns over possible escalation of tensions.

Govt 6 July announced hike in fuel prices as part of agreement with International Monetary Fund, prompting three days of violent protests in Port-au-Prince and other cities despite govt immediately withdrawing proposal; cars set alight, streets blocked and shops and hotels looted. At least four people died in violence, police detained 64 people for rioting and looting. Transport and public sector unions participated in major strike 9-10 July. PM Lafontant 14 July resigned, however activists vowed to continue to pressure govt. President Moïse 17 July opened consultations with several parties on selection of new PM, closed on 28 July.

UN humanitarian agency reported only 9% of needed funds had been allocated to Haiti, and predicted slight upturn in number of people affected by food insecurity. With Haitians continuing to seek refuge in neighbouring Dominican Republic, Dominican govt operation arrested and deported 367 undocumented Haitian migrants in Puerto Plata province 11-13 June, and reported arrest of some 5,000 Haitians on the basis of their migrant status during May.

President Moïse late May visited Taiwan, which promised to provide $150mn aid to develop rural electricity infrastructure in Haiti, one of only eighteen countries with which Taiwan has diplomatic ties (see Taiwan). As Haitians continued to seek refuge in neighbouring Dominican Republic, tensions rose after two Haitian migrants reportedly killed two Dominican nationals 25 April and 1 May, prompting violent reprisals and hate speech against Haitians. Dominican President Medina 13 May announced 900-strong reinforcements to military presence on border, now numbering 6,300.

Haitian nationals 4 April attacked Dominican Republic soldiers in border municipality Bánica, contributing to increasing hostility toward Haitians in Dominican Republic and growing unrest in border area; follows recent implementation of Dominican Republic’s reinforced border security plan to prevent illegal entry of Haitians. Concerns continued early April over proposed reconstitution of armed forces after President Moïse 27 March announced new seven-member high command, pledging development of 5,000-strong force to provide humanitarian assistance and control borders; critics point to army’s previous politicised role, with several members of new command involved in 1991 coup against former President Aristide. UN Security Council 10 April extended mandate of UN Mission for Justice Support in Haiti for another year.

Dominican Republic 6 March announced repatriation or non-admission of 7,598 Haitians during Feb, in addition to 230,000 returned or deported since June 2015. Dominican Republic 1 March dispatched 900 soldiers in addition to 4,500 already deployed on Dominican-Haitian border, as part of new security plan to control illegal migration launched 27 Feb.

Haitians continued to seek refuge abroad, despite some indicators of improved humanitarian situation during 2017 reported by UN humanitarian affairs office (OCHA) 29 Jan. Dominican Republic early Feb confirmed it had deported 15,778 undocumented Haitian migrants in Jan. Estimated 50,000 undocumented Haitians threatened with expulsion from Bahamas, which passed new measures to expel all foreigners without residence papers 1 Jan. Inter-American Dialogue 25 Jan reported 15% increase in remittances from Haitians in U.S. to their home country in 2017, interpreted as result of threat of deportation from U.S..

UN 11 Jan launched joint Multi-Year Humanitarian Response Plan requiring $252 million, day before eighth anniversary of 2010 earthquake. Dominican Republic 5 Jan announced it had intercepted or expelled over 110,000 Haitians seeking refuge in 2017, and had already prevented 3,200 from illegally entering in Jan. U.S. 18 Jan announced it would end guest worker program for Haitians, which gave them opportunity to obtain temporary work visa in U.S.; comes as additional blow following end of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for over 50,000 Haitians resident in U.S. by July 2019.

Dominican Republic continued to expel and arrest Haitians: 5 Dec arrested 555 Haitians illegally residing in northern region Puerto Plata; 8 Dec announced it had expelled over 10,000 Haitians during Nov alone. UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) 15 Dec announced 1.32 million Haitians still facing food insecurity; almost 13,000 new cholera cases Jan-Nov 2017, with 141 deaths, down by a third from 2016.