President of Haiti Jovenel Moïse has been assassinated, stand-in Prime Minister Claude Joseph confirmed on Wednesday.
Who killed Jovenel Moïse? – Here’s what we know
Details around this brazen murder are still sketchy. However, according to information released by the Haitian presidency, it’s believed that Moïse was ambushed at his presidential residence at approximately 01:00 on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Joseph also confirmed that the First Lady, Martine, was also struck in the assassination. However, we understand that she has been receiving emergency treatment in hospital.
At this time, Haitian authorities are left with the difficult task of piecing together the events that transpired at the National Palace. Already, speculation is rife on the persons responsible for this brazen assassination.
Renowned Haitian reporter Robenson Geffrard sent the rumour mill into overdrive when he hinted, in a tweet, that President Moïse was allegedly killed by a commando group with ‘foreign elements’.
However, investigations continue and at this time, Haitian authorities have not confirmed any leads.
Here’s what we know about President Moïse
Moïse’s presidential tenure came to an end two months before the country is set to undergo an election process. Whether this holds any significance to the violent death he met remains unknown.
However, Moïse was a polarising political figure all the same. In his life before politics, Haitians revered him as Banana Man, a towering figure whose strides in agriculture yielded thousands of jobs for the impoverished.
Moïse is responsible for the export agreement Haiti has with Germany, the first of its kind — in agriculture — since 1954. The 53-year-old ushered youthful energy into a derelict country ravaged by colonialism.
In November 2016, Moïse was elected president of Haiti but as fate would have it, this tenure was halted by Wednesday’s shocking events.
Moïse is survived by his wife Martine and his children Joverlein, Jomarlie and Jovenel Jr.
