Haiti’s government appoints new prime minister after president’s assassination

Haiti’s government has appointed Ariel Henry as the new prime minister after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, Reuters reported Tuesday.

In a ceremony in the capital of Port-au-Prince, Henry used his inaugural address to urge unity and stability for his Haitian people. 

Henry, a neurosurgeon, was appointed by Moïse to be the country’s new prime minister just days before his assassination, according to Reuters. 

Henry’s appointment comes after the former acting prime minister Claude Joseph stepped down from his position on Monday in agreement to hand over the role to Henry. 

Joseph, who now has returned to his position as foreign minister, received criticism from many who accused him of pursuing a reckless power grab. 

Joseph warned that the country faced a “tough task” ahead of the upcoming elections.

“You’re inheriting an exceptional situation characterized by the absence of a president to serve as your shield, a political crisis unprecedented in the history of the country, galloping insecurity, a morose and precarious economic situation,” Joseph said.

Moïse was killed July 7 by a group of assailants who raided the president’s private residence during the night. Haitian authorities have arrested 20 people in connection with the incident, including two U.S. citizens of Haitian descent.

Moïse’s wife, Martine, who was critically injured from the attack, recently returned to Haiti after spending a week at a Miami-based medical facility, Reuters noted.