The interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph reported that Haiti President Jovenel Moise was assassinated at home by a group of armed people on Wednesday morning.

Joseph claimed that he is now in charge of the country.

Joseph said that Moise’s wife was injured and was at the hospital. Joseph urged calm among the public and insisted that the army and police would protect the population.

“The president was assassinated at his home by foreigners who spoke English and Spanish,” Joseph said.

After 2018’s delayed legislative elections, Moise was able to rule Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas by decree. This was after disputes and delays in his term.

Apart from the political crisis, ransom demand kidnappings have risen in recent months due to the increasing influence of armed groups in the Caribbean country.

Haiti is also plagued by chronic poverty and frequent natural disasters.

He faced fierce opposition from large swathes, who deemed his mandate unlegitimate. He then governed through seven prime ministers in just four years. After only three months, Joseph was to be removed from office this week.

Haiti was to hold a constitutional referendum in September, after the election of the presidential, legislative, and local candidates were postponed twice due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The text of the constitutional amendment, which was supported by Moise and aimed to strengthen the executive branch, was overwhelmingly rejected both by the opposition as well as many civil society organizations.

The current constitution was adopted in 1987 following the fall of Duvalier’s dictatorship. It states that any popular consultation to amend the Constitution via referendum is strictly prohibited.

Critics also said it was impossible to organize a poll due to the general insecurity of the country.