In an address to the Nation broadcast on the National Television of Haiti (TNH) a few minutes ago, Prime Minister a.i. Claude Joseph declared :

Extracts :

"[...] the first pieces of information we have is that it is a group of English and Spanish speaking individuals with large caliber weapons who killed the President of the Republic https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34162-haiti-flash-president-jovenel-moise-assassinated-by-mercenaries-official-updated-7am-+-video.html .

As Head of Government still in office, this morning I convened a Special Superior Council of the National Police (CSPN) in the strict application of article 149 of the Constitution https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34165-haiti-assassination-of-jovenel-moise-what-says-the-constitution.html . I have just chaired an extraordinary Council of Ministers where we decided to declare the State of siege over the whole country.

[...] we ask the population to keep calm, I appeal to the intelligence of the Haitian people in these difficult times.

[...] all people and sectors in countries must stand together as ONE to condemn what has happened. Haitian people keep calm because the situation is under control.

[...] the Council of Ministers met to ensure the continuity of the State

[...] President Jovenel Moïse will not be dead without justice being done, you can kill him, but you cannot kill his ideas.

[...] I ask all the vital forces of the Nation to help us in the battle, in the continuity of the State, because it is democracy, it is the Republic which must win, the black forces will lose

[...] the assassins of President Jovenel Moïse will pay for what they did in court, keep calm the security of the country is under control. Living forces of the Nations, let's seek harmony, let's move forward together so that the country does not sink into chaos [...]"

Find out more about the State of siege :

The State of siege is a legal device implemented by a Government in the event of imminent danger (armed insurrection or foreign invasion) for the Nation.

It generally includes several provisions: the army replaces the police for public security; certain freedoms of the rule of law (movement, demonstration, expression) are severely restricted; the media are controlled; a curfew comes into force in the territory affected by the state of siege; national mobilization can be decided; civilian courts are replaced by military courts; increased surveillance of the population.

See also :

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-34164-haiti-dr-luis-abinader-closes-the-border-with-haiti-and-convenes-the-military-commanders.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34163-haiti-flash-closure-of-the-airport.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34162-haiti-flash-president-jovenel-moise-assassinated-by-mercenaries-official-updated-7am-+-video.html

HL/ HaitiLibre