Port Au Prince, 7 July 2021 – Deadly ambush ad Haiti and the country falls into chaos. A armed commando of ‘mercenaries’, some of whom spoke Spanish, killed about 1 local (the 7 Italians) in his residence last night Haitian President Jovenel Moise and his wife, Lady Martine (died hours after the ambush due to the severity of her injuries). Residents reported seeing wandering around the area men in black camouflage and have heard shots from large-caliber weapons and noticed drones flying.
The news portal InfoHaiti.net published a statement from the prime minister, Claude Joseph, who took over the leadership of the country ad hinterim and condemned what he described as a “hateful, inhuman and barbaric act”.
Always the portal also reports from the newspaper The Miami Herald, that the attackers “claimed to be agents of the US Goddess“, according to a video taken by people who were in the Moïse residence. A Haitian government official, however, categorically denied that they could have been agents of the Goddess, and assured that” these were mercenaries “.
State of siege
Joseph said the state of siege in the country. This was announced by the premier himself in a televised message, in which he appeared alongside the police chief, Leon Charles, and other authorities, after presiding over an extraordinary Council of Ministers.
Closed the airport
Port-au-Prince International Airport has been closed to traffic and approaching planes have been forced to turn back or change their route. This is what happened to an American Airlines plane, coming from Fort Lauderdale, which returned to its starting point. For its part, the Haitian company Sunrise Airlines has announced that all its flights “are canceled until further notice”.
Months of violence
Moise’s murder comes at the height of months of tensions and violence and in the midst of a political crisis. The late head of state ruled by decree from January 2020 in the face of a lack of agreement on legislative elections which had effectively put parliament out of action. He had left yesterday, however, reports the portal Haiti Press Network, the valid period for the registration of parties in the next general consultations, which are scheduled for September.
Biden’s conviction
“We are shocked and saddened to hear of the horrific assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise and the attack on First Lady Martine. We condemn this hateful act “: so Joe Biden commented on the killing of Moise and his wife, expressing the condolence to the people of the Caribbean island and offering support while the US “continues to work for a safe Haiti”.
