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Why was Jovenel Moïse assassinated? Wife Martine says 'gutless killers' gave him no chance to speak

Late Jovenel Moïse's wife, Martine, claimed her husband was assassinated by those who wanted the 'final abolition of political transition'

The slain Haitian President Jovenel Moïse’s wife, Martine Moïse, has slammed her husband’s killers and claimed that they assassinated the 53-year-old because they “wanted final abolition of political transition.” At midnight on July 7, Jovenel was murdered by gunmen after they broke into his home in Port-au-Prince. The attack also left Martine seriously wounded. She was soon airlifted to a Miami hospital after the incident.

Now the devastated widow has spoken for the first time since the tragedy. The 47-year-old explained how quickly their lives changed as “the mercenaries came and pelted my husband with bullets.” She said Jovenel was shot dead “in the blink of an eye…without even giving him a chance to say a word.” “You know who the president was fighting against. These people hired mercenaries to kill the president and his family due to the projects for roads, electricity, drinking water supply, organisation of the referendum and elections... for the final abolition of political transition,” Martine added while still being in the hospital.

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A recording of Martine was also shared on Twitter via her official account in which she was heard saying, “You have to be a notorious criminal without guts to assassinate a president like Jovenel Moïse with impunity without giving him the chance to speak.” As per reports, Jovenel wanted to change Haiti's constitution. He had also reportedly submitted a referendum in an apparent attempt to regulate government contracts and politics, which was criticized by opposition forces. The referendum, scheduled for September 26 along with presidential and legislative elections, could have risked the position of the prime minister as well as changed the legislative branch while making the presidency stronger.

However, after the death of the president, the already chaotic Haiti is facing more disorder. The government officials of the Caribbean country have pleaded for help from US President Joe Biden. However, their request has reportedly been dismissed. Meanwhile, on Saturday, July 10, Jimmy Cherizier -- one of the most powerful gang leaders in Haiti -- has announced that his people will protest Jovenel’s murder. The former police officer, popular as Barbecue who leads the G9 federation of nine gangs, also blamed opposition politicians for playing an important role in the killing of the president by the “stinking bourgeoisie”. Cherizier said: “It was a national and international conspiracy against the Haitian people. We tell all bases to mobilize, to mobilize and take to the streets for light to be shed on the president's assassination.”

Netizens on Twitter also reacted to Martine’s recent message. One user tweeted in Spanish and the English translation read, “As a Colombian I feel enormous shame for people with a passport equal to mine who committed such an abominable crime, shame for this, for our government and for allowing the training of mercenaries in our army. Solidarity with the Haitian brothers.” Another one wrote, “Justice for our father jovenel Moïse justice for live well recovery madame martine.”

But there were some tweets that cast doubt over Martine’s message as a person asked, “A question ... if you are in critical condition in a hospital in the USA, how can you send such a calm and silent message?” The second one said, “There is something how weird, she is talking like a person that nothing happened to her. I think that voice is not hers'! That account is official, it may have also been hacked.”