Haitian President Jovenel Moise assassinated at home

Haitian President Jovenel Moise was assassinated during an attack on his home, the country’s interim prime minister announced Wednesday.

The country’s first lady, Martine Moise, was hospitalized following the attack, though more details about her condition were not immediately available.

“The country’s security situation is under the control of the National Police of Haiti and the Armed Forces of Haiti,” Claude Joseph, the interim premier, said in a statement from his office. “Democracy and the republic will win.”

The interim premier characterized the assassination as a “hateful, inhumane, and barbaric act,” though he did not reveal many details about the alleged perpetrators other than to say that some of them spoke in Spanish.

The country, which has had its economic, political, and social woes get worse recently, is scheduled to hold general elections later in 2021.

Moise announced the arrest of more than 20 people, including two high-profile government officials, Feb. 7 for allegedly plotting to kill him and overthrow the government.