Haiti President Jovenel Moise assassinated in an attack on his home
Here’s what you need to know about the backdrop to Moise’s assassination
By Caitlin Hu
The assassination of President Jovenel Moise deepens a crisis that Haiti currently faces on a number of fronts. Here’s what you need to know.
- The attack comes amid a backdrop of political instability, with many key roles in the country’s government already empty and the parliament effectively defunct. The country’s opposition movement has long called for Moise to resign.
- Criminal violence escalated in capital city Port-au-Prince in the month of June, including attacks on police and arson of civilian homes. More than 10,000 people have fled to temporary shelters. The country was also rocked by a wave of kidnappings earlier this year.
- Covid-19 is also on the rise in Haiti, with its highest death toll yet reported in June. Pan American Health Organization Director Carissa F. Etienne last month called on the international community to “urgently” assist the country in combating the virus.
- Haiti is heading toward elections and a controversial constitutional referendum this fall. The referendum had been championed by Moise as an opportunity to strengthen the Haitian presidency.
Increased security presence in Haitian president’s neighborhood this morning
From CNN’s Rebecca Wright
Photos from the Perlerin, Petion Ville neighborhood where the Haitian president’s private residence is located show an increased security presence on Wednesday.
Soldiers dressed in full camouflage uniform and protective gear could be seen patrolling the area following Jovenel Moise’s assassination.
Leaders react to news of Moise’s killing
From CNN’s Tatiana Arias, Claudia Rebaza, Sharon Braithwaite and Lauren Said-Moorhouse
Global leaders denounced the assassination of Jovenel Moise and expressed solidarity with the people of Haiti on Wednesday.
“We reject the vile assassination of the President of Haiti, Jovenel Moise. It is a cowardly and barbaric act against the entire Haitian people. Our solidarity with the sister nation and the family of a great friend of Colombia”, Colombian President Ivan Duque Duque said in a statement. “We support institutions and democracy, and we ask the Organization of American States (OAS) for an urgent mission to protect the democratic order.”
“Spain strongly condemns the assassination of the President of Haiti, Jovenel Moise. Our condolences to his family and our solidarity with the Haitian people,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez tweeted. “We call for the unity of the political forces to find a way out of the serious crisis that the country experiences.”
His UK counterpart, Boris Johnson, also expressed his shock at the “abhorrent act” and called for calm.
US Embassy in Haiti closed following attack
From CNN’s Lauren Said-Moorhouse and Jennifer Hansler
The US Embassy said in a security alert on its website that it would restrict “direct-hire US citizen” staff to embassy compounds in Port-au-Prince “until further notice” and that it would be closed Wednesday as a result of the “ongoing security situation.”
It asked for people to avoid unnecessary travel in the area at this time.
The travel advisory level for Haiti was already at the highest level – Level 4: Do Not Travel – “due to kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and COVID-19,” according to the State Department.
This post has been updated.
Who is in charge of Haiti after Moise’s assassination?
From CNN’s Caitlin Hu
In the wake of the Haitian president’s assassination, one of the big questions is who will succeed him. But the answer isn’t immediately clear, according to Jean Wilner Morin, the president of the national association of Haitian judges.
He told CNN that the line of presidential succession in the country was now murky because normally the President of the Supreme Court would be next in line, but he recently died after contracting Covid-19.
For the acting prime minister Claude Joseph to formally replace the President, he would have to be approved by Haiti’s parliament, said Morin. But without recent elections, the parliament is effectively defunct.
White House press secretary calls assassination of Haitian president a “horrific crime”
From CNN’s Adrienne Vogt
White House Press Sec. Jen Psaki called the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise a “horrific crime” and pledged that the Biden administration will stand with the people of Haiti.
“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. And we stand ready and stand by them to provide any assistance that’s needed,” Psaki said on CNN’s “New Day.”
“We’re still gathering details, we’re still gathering specifics. And of course, our embassy and State Department will be in close touch,” she said.
“It’s a tragedy,” Psaki said. “We stand with them, and it’s important the people of Haiti know that.”
Watch:
Here’s the full statement from the acting PM announcing Moise’s death
From CNN’s Martin Goillandeau
A copy of the statement from acting Prime Minister Claude Joseph is circulating on social media following news of the early hours attack on the Haitian President’s residence.
The official account of the Embassy of Haiti in Canada tweeted the government communique before following up with a subsequent tweet expressing its “great sadness” in confirming the death of the president. The embassy also said, “The First Lady, injured, receives the necessary care. Our hearts go out to the presidential family and to the whole nation.”
This is a translation of the full Haitian press release from PM Joseph:
“At around one (1) o’clock in the morning, on the night of Tuesday, July 6 to Wednesday, July 7, 2021, a group of unidentified individuals, some of whom were speaking in Spanish, attacked the private residence of the President of the Republic and fatally wounded the Head of State. The First Lady was shot and is receiving the necessary treatment.
“Condemning this heinous, inhumane and barbaric act, the Prime Minister a.i., Dr. Claude Joseph, and the CSPN are calling for calm. The security situation in the country is under the control of the Haitian National Police and the Haitian Armed Forces.
“All measures are being taken to guarantee the continuity of the State and to protect the Nation.
“Democracy and the Republic will win.”
Haiti’s president was a controversial leader
From Caitlin Hu
Haitian president Jovenel Moise was a controversial figure, with many in the country disputing his right to continue serving in the presidency this year.
While the United States, United Nations and Organization of American States supported his claim to a fifth year in office, critics say he should have stepped down on February 7, 2021, citing a constitutional provision that starts the clock once a president is elected, rather than when he takes office.
Throughout his presidency, the President had repeatedly failed to hold elections at local and national levels, leaving much of the country’s governing infrastructure empty.
His death takes place against a background of extreme violence in Haitian capital Port-au-Prince that has claimed the lives of many citizens, and escalated notably in June.
Rival groups have battled with one another or the police for control of the streets, displacing tens of thousands and worsening the country’s humanitarian crisis. Infamous ex-police officer Jimmy Cherizier recently vowed before local media to carry out a “revolution” in the city.
Haiti’s president has been assassinated, prime minister says
Haitian President Jovenel Moise was killed during an attack on his private residence early on Wednesday, according to the country’s acting Prime Minister Claude Joseph.
Joseph said in a statement that a group of unidentified individuals attacked Moise’s home at around 1 a.m. and fatally wounded the head of state. Haiti’s first lady was also shot and is receiving treatment, he added.
The Prime Minister condemned what he described as a “heinous, inhumane and barbaric act” and called for calm.
“The security situation in the country is under the control of the Haitian National Police and the Haitian Armed Forces,” the statement added. “All measures are being taken to guarantee the continuity of the State and to protect the Nation.”
Moise was 53 years old. The former banana exporter spent most of the past year waging a political war with the opposition over the terms of his presidency.
Moise claimed his five-year term should end in 2022 — a stance backed by the United States, United Nations and Organization of American States.
The opposition has argued he should have stepped down on February 7 this year, citing a constitutional provision that starts the clock on the term once a president is elected, rather than when he takes office.
Source: http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/cnn_topstories/~3/JatJlEVCmUE/index.html