[DW] At least 28 people are believed to be involved in President Jovenel Moise's liquidation, including two Haitian Americans, national police director general Leon Charles said at a news conference on Thursday. "We have arrested 15 Colombians and the two Americans of Haitian origin. Three Colombians have been killed while eight others are on the loose," Charles said.
"We will strengthen our investigation and search techniques to intercept the other eight mercenaries," he said.
Charles, who had said that four people had been killed late on Wednesday, did not explain the potential discrepancy, or whether it was an additional three.
The police chief paraded the suspects before news hounds, showing a number of Colombian passports, assault rifles, machetes, walkie-talkies and materials including bolt cutters and hammers.
"Foreigners came to our country to kill the president," Charles said.
Diego Molano, Colombia's defense minister said in a statement that preliminary information indicated that Colombians involved in the attack were retired members of the country's military.
He said his government would cooperate in the investigation.
Meanwhile,
...back at the revival hall, Buford bit the snake and Eloise began speaking in tongues...
the US State Department said it was in contact with Haitian officials and was aware of the reports of US citizens being arrested, but could not confirm or comment as yet.
One of the Haitian-Americans arrested had previously worked as a bodyguard for the Canadian Embassy in Haiti.
PROFESSIONAL LIQUIDATION SQUAD
Observers agree a professional liquidation team was responsible for the murder. "I drove past the president's house at 8:30 p.m. and saw only one patrol unit," radio personality Widmaier said. Usually, the president has an entire squad of heavily armed bodyguards to protect him.
Neighbors first heard gunshots around 1 a.m., followed by heavy explosions and a deadly, hour-long battle involving semi-automatic weapons. After that, it became clear the president was dead and his wife, Martine, seriously injured. The Haitian first lady was flown to the US state of Florida on Wednesday for medical treatment. There were no other reports of casualties. The couple's daughter, who had reportedly locked herself in her room, remained unharmed, local media said.
The question remains, however, what role foreign mercenaries might have played in the killing. Interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph said some of the killers were believed to have spoken Spanish and English. Voice recordings circulating online suggest the men identified themselves to Moise's bodyguards as being members of the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The US government maintained close ties with the Haitian leader, but denied any involvement in the incident.
Following an hours-long chase near the scene of the murder, four suspects were bumped off and a further two were arrested and taken into police custody.
A PRESIDENT WITH MANY ENEMIES
The motive for the killing remains unclear. Only recently did the president himself say that corrupt oligarchs were trying to kill him — he did not name names.
Opponents have been demonstrating against him during his entire time in office. The protests were said to be fueled by Venezuela
...a country in Central America that sits on an enormous pool of oil. Formerly the most prospereous country in the region, it became infested with Commies sniffing almost unlimited wealth. It turned out the wealth wasn't unlimited, the economy collapsed under the clownish Hugo Chavez, the murder rate exceeded places like Honduras and El Salvador. A significant proportion of the populace refugeed to Colombia and points south...
. The socialist government there — which had expanded its influence in Haiti by giving millions of dollars in aid following the 2010 earthquake — saw US-friendly Moise as a traitor. Only recently, Moise railed influential opposition senators with a proposal to amend the constitution and abolish the Senate.
Widmaier doubts whether the murder was a politically motivated coup. The opposition had been caught out and had no plan going forward. The journalist believes the killers could not have found a more unfavorable time for a change in leadership. The country has not had an elected parliament for over a year, the chief justice died recently of COVID and Prime Minister Joseph, who took over as interim head following Wednesday's murder, had actually already resigned from the post, but his designated successor had not officially been sworn in.
A COUNTRY SWEPT UP BY VIOLENCE AND THE MAFIA
In additional to any political opponents, criminal gangs may also have played a part in the murder. The groups have been making Port-au-Prince unsafe since the beginning of the year as incidences of gang-related violence continue to rise.
Jimmy Cherizier, also known as Barbeque, is deemed to be the city's most important gang leader. It is thought he has ties to the presidential palace, he even recently threatened to take power. His enemies are said to be on opposition politician's payrolls.
Related:
Jovenel Moise: 2021-07-07 Haitian President Jovenel Moise assassinated in his home
Jovenel Moise: 2021-02-24 Protesters have taken to streets in Port-au-Prince to demand President Jovenel Moise step down following the end of his five-year term
Jovenel Moise: 2016-02-07 Haiti set to form transitional government as president steps down
Jovenel Moise: 2021-07-07 Haitian President Jovenel Moise assassinated in his home
Jovenel Moise: 2021-02-24 Protesters have taken to streets in Port-au-Prince to demand President Jovenel Moise step down following the end of his five-year term
Jovenel Moise: 2016-02-07 Haiti set to form transitional government as president steps down