18 arrested over 2021 assassination of Haitian president Moïse

US officials announced on Sunday that 18 people have been arrested in connection with the 2021 assassination of Haitian president Jovenel Moïse. The suspects were transported by military plane from Haiti to the Southern District of Florida, where they will face charges.

Federal prosecutor Jason Reding Quinones said on social media that five years after the killing, defendants are still being brought before American courts and the investigation is not yet complete. He noted that 30 people have now been indicted in the case overall. FBI special agent Brett Skiles said the multi-location, international arrests demonstrate the bureau's continued commitment to bringing all participants in the plot to justice.

Moïse, 53, was shot dead at his private residence on 7 July 2021 by a group of about 20 military-trained Colombian mercenaries. His security detail did not intervene.

Previous convictions

In May, a federal court in Miami convicted four men on charges including conspiracy to kill or kidnap Moïse and violating the US Neutrality Act. They face possible life sentences. All four were linked to CTU, a Florida-based private security firm, and were drawn into the plot by promises of lucrative contracts after Moïse's ouster, prosecutors said.

Eleven people had already been indicted in US courts before this latest round, with five sentenced to life in prison — a former Colombian soldier, a former Haitian senator, a Haitian-Chilean businessman, a retired Colombian soldier and a Haitian American.

Haiti remains unstable

Haiti has had no president since Moïse's death and has fallen into deepening chaos. Gangs control roughly 80% of Port-au-Prince, with kidnappings for ransom, armed robbery and carjacking widespread.

The country is due to hold its first presidential and legislative elections since 2016, along with a constitutional referendum, on 13 December, if security allows. Meanwhile, a UN-backed force meant to help police fight the gangs is not expected to reach full strength by October as planned — as of July it had fewer than 1,000 personnel from Chad, Mongolia, Jamaica, Guatemala, El Salvador and Sri Lanka, against a planned capacity of 5,500 uniformed staff and 50 civilians.