Assassins of president were ‘professional’ mercenaries: Haiti envoy

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An emergency vehicle is parked at the entrance of Ryder Trauma Center where Haitian First Lady Martine Moise was taken for treatment in Miami, on July 7, 2021. – Haiti President Jovenel Moise was assassinated and his wife wounded early July 7, 2021 in an attack at their home, the interim prime minister announced, an act that risks further destabilizing the Caribbean nation beset by gang violence and political volatility. Claude Joseph said he was now in charge of the country and urged the public to remain calm, while insisting the police and army would ensure the population’s safety.The capital Port-au-prince as quiet on Wednesday morning with no extra security forces on patrol, witnesses reported. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP)

 

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The assassins Wednesday of Haiti’s president were “professional” mercenaries who disguised themselves as US agents and may have already left the country, Haiti’s ambassador to the United States said.

The killers presented themselves at the residence of President Jovenel Moise as agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration but their conduct was not in keeping with forces from the US agency, Ambassador Bocchit Edmond said.

“It was a well-orchestrated attack and those were professionals,” Edmond told reporters.

“We have a video and we believe that those are mercenaries.”

He also said the first lady, Martine Moise, who was wounded in the attack, would head to Miami for medical treatment.

(FILES) In this file photo Haitian President Jovenel Moise stands with his wife after receiving his sash during his Inauguration, at the Haitian Parliament in Port-au-Prince, on February 7, 2017. – Haiti President Jovenel Moise was assassinated and his wife wounded early July 7, 2021 in an attack at their home, the interim prime minister announced, an act that risks further destabilizing the Caribbean nation beset by gang violence and political volatility. Claude Joseph said he was now in charge of the country and urged the public to remain calm, while insisting the police and army would ensure the population’s safety.”The president was assassinated at his home by foreigners who spoke English and Spanish,” Joseph said of the assault that took place around 1:00 am (0500 GMT) and left the president’s wife hospitalized. (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL / AFP)

“I can tell you that necessary arrangements have been made since this morning to move her to a Miami hospital,” he said.

The ambassador said an investigation was underway into the assassins’ whereabouts, motivations and origins but said they were speaking Spanish to one another.

He added they may have left the country — likely to the neighboring Dominican Republic, a Spanish-speaking country.

“We don’t know if they left,” he said.

“If they are not in the country right now, there is only one way for them to leave and that is through the borders because there is no plane.”

He said a private plane would have been detected by civil aviation authorities but that movement across the border could have gone undetected.


© Agence France-Presse