- President Jovenel Moise was murdered in his private residence on July 7.
- The alleged assassin was disguised as an agent of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
- So far, 18 of the 26 Colombians suspected of participating in the attack have been detained.
On July 7, Haitian President Jovenel Moise was shot and killed when an assassin armed with an assault rifle attacked his private residence on the hill above Port-au-Prince.
The assassination of Moise has raised concerns about spiralling chaos in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.
It also triggered an international hunt for gunmen and so-called planners throughout the Americas.
Here is what we currently know:
How was Moise killed?
A large group of gunmen killed the 53-year-old Moise when he attacked his residence in Petionville, a hillside suburb in the northern part of the capital Port-au-Prince early in the morning. His wife was seriously injured.
Haiti’s ambassador to the United States, Bocchit Edmond, stated that the gunmen disguised themselves as agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration during the attack, which may help them enter the guarded house.
What happened to the gunman?
The gunman escaped, but the police tracked some of them to a house near Moiz’s residence, where the exchange of fire continued into the night.
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So far, 18 of the 26 Colombians suspected of participating in the attack have been detained, 3 were killed by the police, and 5 are still at large. The police also arrested two Haitian Americans and another Haitian who was believed to be behind the operation.
Who is the Colombian killer?
Colombian Defense Minister Diego Morano said that preliminary findings indicate that the Colombian suspected of participating in the assassination was a retired member of the country’s armed forces.
The Colombian president said on Thursday that many former Colombian soldiers went to Haiti to serve as bodyguards, but others knew that someone planned to commit a crime.
The Pentagon stated that a “small number” of detainees had received U.S. military training during their service in the Colombian army in the past.
Who was the mastermind behind this attack?
The authorities detained 63-year-old Christian Emmanuel Sanon, who is widely described as a doctor in Florida and accused him of being one of the masterminds behind the murder.
Authorities said Sanon hired mercenaries to expel and replace Moise. It is said that he took a private jet to Haiti in early June, accompanied by hired security personnel, and wanted to take over as president.
National Police Chief Leon Charles also pointed out that former Haitian Senator John Joel Joseph was a key figure in the conspiracy, saying that he had provided weapons and planned a meeting, and the police were looking for him.
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Charles said that Dimitri Herald, the head of security at the Moiz court, was also arrested. The prosecutor wanted to know why the attackers did not encounter more resistance in the president’s home.
What happened next?
The assassination of Moise triggered new political turmoil in this Caribbean country with a population of 11 million. Interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph asked the United States and the United Nations to send troops to protect airports and other infrastructure.
US President Joe Biden ruled out Joseph’s proposal on Thursday, saying that such a plan is “not on the agenda at this time.”
However, US investigators continue to assist the Haitian authorities in their investigations.
A senior U.S. government official said that, if possible, the U.S. might also bring a lawsuit against the person who killed Moise in U.S. courts.
