EIGHTEEN SUSPECTS ARRESTED OVER 2021 HAITI PRESIDENT ASSASSINATION

US law enforcement officials said eighteen suspects in the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse have been flown by military aircraft from Haiti to the United States to face trial. Jason Reding Quinones, the US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, said 30 people have now been indicted over the killing. He said prosecutors "are not finished," five years after the assassination. FBI Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles said the arrests reflected the bureau's "continued commitment to bringing all participants in this plot to justice."

Moïse was shot dead on 7 July 2021 during an assault on his private residence in Port-au-Prince. His wife, Martine Moïse, was shot in her arms and thigh during the attack. Officials said the killing was carried out by about 20 Colombian citizens, including former Colombian soldiers, and a small number of dual Haitian-American citizens. In May, a Miami federal court convicted four men — Arcangel Pretel Ortiz, Antonio Intriago, Walter Veintemilla and James Solages — of conspiracy to kill or kidnap Moïse. Prosecutors linked the men to the Florida-based security firm CTU and said they had sought lucrative government contracts.

Eleven people had already been indicted over the assassination in US courts, and five of them have been sentenced to life in prison. Haiti has had no president since Moïse's death, and is preparing to hold its first presidential and legislative election since 2016, alongside a referendum on the constitution, scheduled for 13 December if security conditions allow. Gangs are reported to control about 80% of Port-au-Prince, and the country continues to face armed robbery and kidnapping for ransom. A UN-backed armed force has been deployed to help local police confront the violence.