Jovenel Moise, Haiti's embattled President, killed at 53

[peppertree]

Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, a former banana producer and political neophyte who ruled Haiti for more than four years as the country grew increasingly unstable under his watch, was killed on Wednesday. He was 53.

Moïse was assassinated at his private home following “a highly coordinated attack by a highly trained and heavily armed group,” interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph said.

His wife, Martine Moïse, was injured in the attack and was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

“Haiti has lost a true statesman,” Joseph said. “We will ensure that those responsible for this heinous act are swiftly brought to justice.”

Moïse took office in February 2017, pledging to strengthen institutions, fight corruption and bring more investments and jobs to the Western hemisphere’s poorest nation.

But his administration was plagued by massive protests from the start, and critics accused him of growing increasingly authoritarian. He had been ruling by decree since 2018.

At: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-07-07/jovenel-moise-haitis-embattled-president-killed-at-53

[Eugene]

1. Haiti declares 'state of siege' after assassination of President Jovenel Moise

Source: Euronews with AP and AFP

Haiti declares 'state of siege' after assassination of President Jovenel Moïse

By Euronews with AP, AFP • Updated: 07/07/2021 - 19:54

Interim Haitian Prime Minister Claude Joseph declared a state of siege in the country on Wednesday, hours after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse at his private residence.

"In line with article 149 of the Constitution, I have just chaired an extraordinary council of ministers and we have decided to declare a state of siege throughout the country," Joseph said during a speech broadcast on social media.

"They shot and killed the president and injured his wife," he went on, assuring that their deaths "would not go unpunished."

-snip-

Bocchit Edmond, the Haitian ambassador to the United States, said the attack was carried out by “well-trained professional commandos” and “foreign mercenaries” who were masquerading as US agents.

He said the gunmen were not currently in Haiti and had probably escaped over the land border to the Dominican Republic or by sea.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.euronews.com/2021/07/07/haiti-president-jovenel-moise-assassinated-at-home-prime-minister-says

[Judi Lynn]

2. I dread to see what's coming next as his backers attempt to regain control.

Thank you, peppertree.