Haitian President Killed

By: Bongani Gina

Haiti interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph has confirmed that President Jovenel Moise has been assassinated at his home in the early hours of this morning by a group of armed individuals.

According to Joseph, Moise’s injured wife was in the hospital and has urged the public to remain calm, and insisted the police and army would ensure the population’s safety.

He says the president was assassinated at his home by foreigners who spoke English and Spanish.

Moise had been ruling Haiti, the poorest country in the North America, by decree, after legislative elections due in 2018 were delayed in the wake of disputes, including on when his own term ends.

In addition to the political crisis, kidnappings for ransom have surged in recent months, further reflecting the growing influence of armed gangs in the Caribbean nation.

Haiti also faces chronic poverty and recurrent natural disasters.

The president faced steep opposition from swathes of the population that deemed his mandate illegitimate, and he churned through a series of seven prime ministers in four year. Most recently, Joseph was supposed to be replaced this week after only three months in the post.

Joseph also confirmed that he is now in charge of the country.