Brussels, 8 July 2021/OACPS: It is with deep sadness that the Secretary-General of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), H.E. Mr. Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti, learned of the assassination of the President of Haiti, H.E. Mr. Jovenel Moïse, on 7 July 2021. The Secretary-General, on behalf of the OACPS, offers his sincere condolences to the family of the late President, and to the Government and people of Haiti. He also takes this opportunity to wish a full recovery to First Lady, Mrs. Martine Moïse.

The Secretary-General strongly condemns this odious act which takes place in the context of serious political, socio-economic and security crises, while urging calm and restraint in order to preserve peace and national unity. Secretary-General Chikoti further urges the relevant Government authorities to shed light on this crime so that those responsible are held accountable for their reprehensible actions.

Of concern as well to Secretary-General Chikoti is the apparent decline of democracy in Haiti. The Secretary-General calls on all stakeholders to prioritise the best interests of the Haitian people in the search for a lasting solution to the current crises.

Secretary-General Chikoti underlines that the demise of President Moïse is an immense loss for the OACPS given his contribution and his personal commitment to the achievement of the objectives of the OACPS, demonstrated, in particular, by the hosting of the 34th Session of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) in 2018.