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Eighteen suspects extradited to US over Haitian president’s 2021 killing

Federal court in Florida to try men accused of orchestrating the transnational plot to kill Jovenel Moise from US soil.

In July 2021, Haitian President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in a plot involving hired Colombian mercenaries, according to US officials. The president, 53 at the time, was killed at his private residence by a group of about 20 military-trained individuals. His security detail did not prevent the murder. US authorities have arrested over a dozen people in connection with the assassination, with 18 suspects taken to Florida to face trial.

An additional 30 suspects have been indicted in the killing, with five already sentenced to life in prison. The remaining 30 are awaiting trial. The plot was allegedly lured by the promise of lucrative contracts for a private security firm, CTU, should the president be removed from power. Gangs now control about 80% of Port-au-Prince, the capital, and violent crimes are rampant.

The UN-backed Gang Suppression Force, intended to help local police combat the gangs, has fallen short of its planned staffing levels.

Written by urgent.news from The Guardian's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

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