[REVISION HISTORY]

Dominican Republic government reorganization

Updated 12 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-19 00:10 UTC → 2026-08-19 02:46 UTC · added ~~removed~~

President Luis Abinader has initiated a broad reorganization of the Dominican Republic’s government through a series of administrative decrees. On August 15, 2026, the administration announced leadership changes across several state institutions, including the National Institute of Land Transit and Terrestrial Transport (INTRANT), the Emergency Operations Center (COE), Civil Defense, and the National Migration Institute. Other appointments were made within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Civil Aviation Board (JAC), and the Airport Department. Following these initial changes, the reorganization extended to the security sector on August 17, 2026. Under Decree 558-26, Major General Ernesto Rafael Rodríguez García, formerly the Inspector General of the National Police, was appointed Director General of the National Police, succeeding Major General Andrés Modesto Cruz Cruz, who was placed in honorable retirement. Cruz Cruz’s brief six-month tenure was marked by social unrest in Navarrete and debates regarding police use of force. To comply with organic laws, Rodríguez García was promoted to the rank of Major General. This transition was overseen by Minister of Interior and Police Faride Raful as part of an ongoing effort toward institutional reform. Public sentiment regarding the change remains mixed, with some citizens expressing skepticism about whether leadership changes alone will effectively reduce crime rates without deeper structural reforms. Simultaneously, Decree 557-26 implemented further restructuring within the military and civilian administration. Key military appointments include Major General Jimmy Arias Grullón as Commander General of the Army, Enmanuel Marcelino Souffront Tamayo as Commander General of the Air Force, Jorge Iván Camino Pérez as Inspector General of the Armed Forces, Enrique Aguilera Trujillo to lead CESFRONT, and Manuel Abad García Lithgow to lead CESAC. Additionally, Delio Buenaventura Colón Rosario was appointed Vice Minister of Defense for Military Affairs, and Guillermo Caro Cruz was named head of the Presidential Security Corps (CUSEP).

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