18 Suspects Extradited to US Over Assassination of Haitian President

Eighteen suspects accused of involvement in the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse have been extradited to the United States to face federal charges.

The suspects were flown from Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, to Florida on Sunday aboard a military aircraft. They are expected to stand trial over their alleged roles in a transnational plot to assassinate Moïse.

The development comes months after US prosecutors secured convictions against four men accused of involvement in the killing. At least five other defendants have pleaded guilty and are serving life sentences.

Moïse, 53, was shot dead at his private residence in Port-au-Prince in July 2021, while his wife was critically wounded. His assassination plunged Haiti into a prolonged political and security crisis.

US prosecutors said the assassination plot was largely planned, financed and organised from southern Florida, giving US federal courts jurisdiction over the case.

US Attorney Jason A. Reding Quinones said authorities would continue pursuing those allegedly involved in financing, facilitating or carrying out the assassination.

However, Haitian human rights activist Pierre Espérance criticised the extradition, describing it as a setback for Haiti’s justice system and calling for reforms that would allow major cases to be tried domestically.

Haiti has not held national elections since Moïse’s assassination. The country has also experienced worsening gang violence, with the United Nations documenting at least 8,100 gang-related killings in 2025 and about 1.5 million people displaced.

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