The Minister told the press that he is currently meeting with the Higher Council of the National Police to adopt the necessary measures and maintain security.

In a statement read on local radio stations, Joseph confirmed that a group of armed men entered the president’s residence at dawn around 01:00 local time.

The group of unidentified individuals, some of which spoke Spanish, assassinated the ruler, while the first lady was shot and is being treated.

Witnesses told the media that the ‘mercenaries’ identified themselves as agents of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

The assassination took place at a time of great political crisis in the country, and a few months before the general elections scheduled by the Government to renew political personnel.

Moïse arrived to the presidency in February 2017, after a controversial electoral process in which only 20 percent of the electoral roll voted, and his tenure was marked by intense anti-government protests, the worsening of political disagreements and an increase in insecurity with the proliferation of armed gangs, which caused the recent displacement of more than 13 thousand people from disadvantaged neighborhoods.

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