Haitian president assassinated as violence fears mount

Haitian President Jovenel Moise was on Tuesday night assassinated by unknown gunmen who stormed his residence in Port-au-Prince, Reuters revealed.

Interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph announced the sad killing of President Moise, which happened on the night and has resultantly sparked violence in certain parts of the capital.

“A group of unidentified individuals, some of them speaking Spanish, attacked the private residence of the president of the republic and thus fatally wounded the head of state,” Joseph is quoted saying by Reuters.

The interim leader added the military and the police had stepped up to contain the situation but sounds of gunfire reigned, adding more fears that violence may further escalate.

The impoverished Caribbean, which is currently home to approximately 11 million people has been facing political unrest, poverty and food shortage and humanitarian crisis. The situation is compounded by the natural disasters that have in the past hit the nation, among them the 2010 earthquake that devastated the country and a series of hurricanes.

The country’s first lady, Martine Moise, 53, was also reported to have been injured during the attack and had been admitted to a local hospital.

The late president Moise rose to leadership against the resistance of certain critics. His regime was battling accusations of underhand plans to use autocratic tendencies to extend his reign.