United States “analyzes” Haiti’s request to send troops

The Defense Ministry “analyzes” a request from the Haitian authorities to send troops to help stabilize the country and protect critical infrastructure following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, according to Pentagon spokesman John Kirby.

The last: No decision has been made, Kirby said in an appearance on Fox News on Sunday. “We are reviewing it, as we would any other request for assistance here at the Pentagon. It is under review.”

• Haitian officials have also contacted the United Nations to send peacekeepers, Reuters reports.
• Elections Minister Mathias Pierre told AP on Saturday that troops were needed because the local police did not have enough resources, saying: “We are asking for small troops to assist us and help us. … As long as we will be weak, I think we will need our neighbors. “
• Acting Prime Minister Claude Joseph said in an interview with ABC News on Saturday that police had “the right people” in custody and revealed that Moses was “tortured” before being killed.

What they say : The State Department said in an Axios statement Friday that the Haitian government “has requested security and investigative assistance, and we remain in regular contact with Haitian officials to discuss how the United States can help “.

• “I think this is really where our energies are best applied right now, to help them mobilize to investigate this incident and determine who is to blame, who is responsible and how to hold them accountable in the future. “Kirby said on Sunday.

What to watch: White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Friday that the United States would send federal law enforcement agents to help with the investigation.

• Senior officials from the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security will travel to Port-au-Prince “as soon as possible” to “assess the situation and how we may be able to help,” Psaki said.
• The White House will also send coronavirus vaccines to Haiti as early as next week, according to Psaki.

The big picture: 20 suspects have been arrested for the assassination, which also injured Martine Moïse, Joseph said.

• An audio recording, claimed to be that of the first lady, was posted on her verified Twitter account on Saturday. In it, the female voice says that the enemies of the late president orchestrated his assassination, but does not identify anyone in particular.

• The assassination comes amid growing political unrest and gang violence in Port-au-Prince, as inflation and postponement of elections contribute to state of crisis in hemisphere’s most impoverished country western.

Go further: Coup worsens political crisis in Haiti

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated with additional information throughout.