The President of Haiti, Jovenel Moise has been assassinated in a nighttime raid on his private residence in the hills above Port-au-Prince.

Announcing the incident, Prime Minister Claude Joseph said a group of 'foreigners', some of whom spoke English and Spanish, broke into Mr Moise's home at around 1am on Wednesday. 

According to him, the 53-year-old was shot dead and the First Lady Martine, 47, was also injured in the attack. 

Mr Joseph went on to note that he had taken charge of the country, adding that the police and armed forces were taking 'all measures to guarantee the continuity of the State and protect the Nation.'

What you should know 

Haiti has suffered for years from political instability, and Moïse had been governing by decree. Critics had accused the 53-year-old of ruling like an autocrat.

In recent months, opposition leaders demanded the he step down, arguing that his term legally ended in February 2021. Moïse and supporters maintained that his term began when he took office in early 2017, following a chaotic election that forced the appointment of a provisional president to serve during a year-long gap.

Mr Moise claimed his five-year term should have ended in 2022 while the United States and the United Nations called for a free and transparent election to be held by the end of 2021.

Haiti was scheduled to hold the general elections later this year.