Live updates: Haitian president Jovenel Moïse assassinated, first lady wounded
Connor Perrett
- Haitian President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in his private residence early Wednesday, the country's interim prime minister announced.
- His wife, first lady Martine Moise, was also injured in the attack and was being treated for her injuries.
- The identity of the group of people involved is not known, though some were speaking Spanish, according to the prime minister.
The news of the assassination creates more uncertainty in Haiti's turbulent political sphere
Before his assassination Wednesday, Moïse had been ruling in the country for over a year by decree after the country failed to hold an election. An election was expected to occur later this year.
At the time of his death, Haiti was experiencing a surge in gang-related crimes, anti-government protests, and COVID-19 infections, the AP reported.
The streets were mostly quiet Wednesday morning, though some ransacked businesses were reported in one area of Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital city, according to the AP.
Haitian President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in his home early Wednesday, the nation's interim prime minister announced
Claude Joseph, the interim prime minister of Haiti, announced Wednesday that Haitian President Jovenel Moïse was shot and killed early Wednesday by a group of armed assailants in his home.
"A group of unidentified individuals, some of them speaking Spanish, attacked the private residence of the president of the republic and thus fatally wounded the head of state," said Claude Joseph, the interim prime minister of Haiti.
Haitian first lady Martine Moise was also injured in the attack and was receiving medical treatment.
Details of who carried out the assassination were not immediately known.
READ MORE ARTICLES ON
Popular Right Now
Popular Keywords
Advertisement