A group of unidentified gunmen attacked the private residence of President Moise overnight on Wednesday and shot him dead, interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph said.

Moïse's wife was also shot and wounded in the attack, Joseph added.

He emphasized that the country’s security situation was under the control of the National Police of Haiti and the Armed Forces of Haiti.

Jovenel Moïse was a Haitian entrepreneur and politician who has served as President of Haiti since 2017.

In 2019, political unrest and calls for his resignation became a crisis.