Five Years After Jovenel Moïse Was Assassinated, Haiti Is Still Waiting for Answers and Stability

Five years ago today, Haiti woke up to news that changed the country forever.

In the early hours of July 7, 2021, Haitian President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated at his private residence in the Pétion-Ville area. His wife, former First Lady Martine Moïse, was also shot during the attack and survived.

The assassination sent shockwaves through Haiti and communities across the diaspora. For many Haitians, the memory of waking up to the news remains vivid. It was not only the killing of a sitting president; it became the beginning of another painful chapter in a country already facing political tension, insecurity and deep uncertainty.

Five years later, many of the questions surrounding Moïse’s assassination remain unresolved in the public mind, while Haiti continues to struggle through a severe political and security crisis.

Armed groups have expanded their influence beyond parts of Port-au-Prince, forcing families from their homes and disrupting daily life, transportation, commerce and access to basic services. The country has also continued to face a difficult political transition as Haitians wait for lasting stability and a credible path toward elections.

The search for justice in Moïse’s killing is still unfolding across multiple jurisdictions. In May 2026, a federal jury in Miami convicted four defendants in connection with the plot to kill the Haitian president, marking a major development in the U.S. case.

But even with convictions in the United States, the larger story remains unfinished. Questions about the full chain of responsibility, the people behind the plot and whether complete accountability will ever be reached continue to weigh heavily on Haitians at home and abroad.

The years since Moïse’s death have brought repeated changes in leadership, worsening armed violence and growing displacement. For many Haitians, the promise of security and democratic stability still feels painfully out of reach.

Today is more than an anniversary. It is a reminder of how much Haiti has endured over the past five years and how many people are still waiting for answers, justice and a safer future.

For the Haitian diaspora, July 7 also brings back a deeply personal memory. Many remember exactly where they were when the news broke and the calls, messages and disbelief that followed.

Five years later, where were you when you first heard that President Jovenel Moïse had been assassinated? 🇭🇹