Haiti‘s ambassador to the United States, Bocchit Edmond, has “no doubt” the assassins who killed Haitian President Jovenel Moise had “internal help” in orchestrating the plot, he said Thursday.
Hours after Moise’s death, law enforcement authorities in the nation killed four suspects and arrested at least two others in connection to the murder. Top officials said the assassins were foreigners, though Edmond maintained they must have had assistance from residents within the country.
“Indeed they were foreigners, but at the same time … they have some help — internal help,” he said.
“There is no doubt about it, there is some internal help, but the most important thing is we need to continue with the investigations and look and identify those who financed them, those who paid them to commit this horrible act,” he added.
POLICE ARREST SUSPECTS IN HAITIAN PRESIDENT’S ASSASSINATION
Moise, 53, was shot dead, and his wife, first lady Martine Moise, was critically injured after assailants who claimed to be with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration stormed their property around 1 a.m. Wednesday. Some Haitian authorities said the perpetrators were “mercenaries.”
Someone with an American accent is heard yelling in English over a megaphone, “DEA operation. Everybody, stand down. DEA operation. Everybody, back up, stand down” in videos obtained after the incident. Ned Price, a State Department spokesman, told reporters it was “absolutely false” DEA agents were involved in the attack.
Claude Joseph, acting prime minister of Haiti, assumed the role of interim premier.
Edmond would not “speculate” on a motive but insisted national police forces must continue their manhunt to locate perpetrators, as he indicated more than six individuals could have been involved in the siege.
“We do hope the national police will continue to hunt them down because possibly there were more than six,” he said.
“I just don’t want to speculate on the motive because since there is an investigation going on, I have to wait for the results, but it’s certain that the head of state cannot be killed just for play,” the ambassador continued. “There has to be a reason.”
At around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Martine Moise arrived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, before being transported in a gurney to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami to treat multiple gunshot wounds. The 47-year-old suffered wounds to her arms, thigh, hands, and abdomen. Her vitals were stable, though she was in critical condition.
The situation in Haiti has drawn condemnation from President Joe Biden.
“We are shocked and saddened to hear of the horrific assassination of President Jovenel Moise and the attack on First Lady Martine Moise of Haiti,” the president wrote in a tweet Wednesday. “We condemn this heinous act — and stand ready to assist as we continue to work for a safe and secure Haiti.”
Price referred to the assassination as a “tragedy.”
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“The U.S. strongly condemns the assassination of President Jovenel Moise and the attack on first lady Martine Moise in Haiti,” he said during videotaped remarks. “We extend our deepest condolences to President Moise’s family and his loved ones and to the people of Haiti in the midst of this tragedy.”
Haiti is scheduled to hold general elections later in 2021.
Moise, who was elected in 2016 and took office in 2017, announced the arrest of more than 20 people, including two high-profile government officials, on Feb. 7, accusing them of plotting to kill him and overthrow the government.
