Haiti President Jovenel Moïse killed at home by armed group amid rising wave of violence

Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, 53, was shot dead by a group of armed men at his private residence in an “inhuman and barbaric act”, Interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph said yesterday. “The president was assassinated at his home by foreigners who spoke English and Spanish,” he said. Haitian first lady Martine Moïse, who was injured in the attack, will be taken to a hospital in Miami to be treated following Wednesday’s attack, said Bocchit Edmond, Haiti’s ambassador to the United States. “She’s stable but in critical condition,” Edmond said. “Efforts are being done now to take her to Miami to be treated.” Haitian Prime Minister Claude Joseph said in a statement that the shooting happened in the early hours of Wednesday at the president’s home. Haiti has declared a two-week state of emergency to help it track down those behind the assassination, according to an extraordinary issue of the official gazette published on Wednesday. Early information shows the murder was perpetrated by a group of foreign gunmen, the gazette said. Joseph has not publicly identified the assailants, but said some of them spoke Spanish. Joseph said he was now in charge of the country and urged the public to remain calm. “The country’s security situation is under the control of the National Police of Haiti and the Armed Forces of Haiti,” Joseph said in a statement from his office. “Democracy and the republic will win.” Joseph said police had been deployed to the National Palace and the upscale community of Pétionville. Gunshots could be heard throughout the capital. Warlike scenes in Haiti as police and troops shoot at each other The US said it was assessing the situation and that President Joe Biden would be briefed on the “tragic attack”, the White House said on Wednesday. “The message to the people of Haiti is this is a tragic attack,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in an interview on CNN. “It’s a horrific crime and we’re so sorry for the loss that they are all suffering and going through as many of them are waking up this morning and hearing this news,” she said. “We stand ready and stand by them to provide any assistance that’s needed.” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was shocked at the “abhorrent” assassination. “Our condolences are with his family and the people of Haiti,” Johnson said. “This is an abhorrent act and I call for calm at this time.” Colombian President Iván Duque condemned what he called a “cowardly act” and expressed solidarity with Haiti. He called for an urgent mission by the Organisation of American States “to protect democratic order”. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez slammed the attack. “I’d like to make an appeal for political unity to get out of this terrible trauma that the country is going through,” he said during a visit to Latvia. The attack occurred amid a rising wave of political violence in the impoverished Caribbean nation. With Haiti politically divided, and facing a growing humanitarian crisis and shortages of food, there are fears of widespread disorder. Port-au-Prince had been witnessing an increase in violence as gangs battle one another and police for control of the streets. The violence was fuelled by an increase in poverty and political instability. Moïse faced fierce protests since he took office in 2017, with the opposition accusing him this year of seeking to install a dictatorship by overstaying his mandate and becoming more authoritarian. He denied the charges. Moïse in February avoided being killed after his security officers had thwarted an attempted coup, arresting more than 20 people in the process. Moïse had been ruling Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, by decree, after legislative elections due in 2018 were delayed and following disputes over when his own term ends. In addition to the political crisis, kidnappings for ransom have surged in recent months, reflecting the growing influence of armed gangs in the country. Haiti also faces chronic poverty and recurrent natural disasters. The president was accused of inaction in the face of crises, and faced steep opposition from swathes of the population. The United Nations Security Council, the United States and Europe have called for elections to be held by the end of 2021. Joseph was supposed to be replaced this week after only three months in the post. Moïse had on Monday appointed neurosurgeon Ariel Henry as the country’s prime minister. Reporting by Agence France-Presse, Associated Press, Reuters

Haiti President Jovenel Moïse killed at home by armed group amid rising wave of violence

Port-au-Prince has been suffering an increase in violence as gangs battle one another and police for control of the streets The US says it is ‘ready’ to offer assistance to any investigation

Port-au-Prince has been suffering an increase in violence as gangs battle one another and police for control of the streets

The US says it is ‘ready’ to offer assistance to any investigation