Haitian president assassinated by gunmen at home, state of emergency declared

Young journalists club

News ID: 52211
Publish Date: 22:34 - 07 July 2021
Wednesday ,7 July 2021 (YJC) _ Haitian President was shot dead by unidentified attackers in his private residence.

Haitian president assassinated by gunmen at home, state of emergency declaredHaitian President Jovenel Moise was shot dead by unidentified attackers in his private residence overnight in a "barbaric act", the government said on Wednesday, stirring fears of escalating turmoil in the impoverished Caribbean nation.

The assassination, which drew condemnation from Washington and neighboring Latin American countries, coincided with a spate of gang violence in Port-au-Prince in recent months fueled by a growing humanitarian crisis and political unrest. The disorder has turned many districts of the capital into no-go zones.

Interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph said in televised remarks after chairing a cabinet meeting that the government had declared a state of emergency amid confusion over who would take over the reins of the country. "My compatriots, remain calm because the situation is under control," he said.

The 53-year-old president's wife, Martine Moise, was also shot in the attack at around 1 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) at the couple's home in the hills above Port-au-Prince, Joseph said in a statement. She was receiving medical treatment.

The US Embassy said in a security alert on its website that it would restrict "direct-hire US citizen" staff to embassy compounds in Port-au-Prince "until further notice" and that it would be closed Wednesday as a result of the "ongoing security situation.

It asked for people to avoid unnecessary travel in the area at this time.

The travel advisory level for Haiti was already at the highest level – Level 4: Do Not Travel – “due to  kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and COVID-19,” according to the State Department.

 

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