One year after Haiti president assassinated, still no answers

Haiti marked one year since president Jovenel Moise was shot dead in his private residence, with no mastermind or motive for the attack identified, and the investigation stalled.

Moise was assassinated in the early hours of July 7, 2021, when a commando group entered his bedroom at the house in Port-au-Prince and shot him 12 times.

Haitian police quickly arrested about 20 people, including 18 former Colombian soldiers presumed to be hired as mercenaries.

But there has since been little progress in investigations in Haiti and also in the United States.

Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who was named to his post just two days before Moise's death, is suspected of speaking with one of the prime suspects via telephone soon after the attack -- a line of investigation which he has dismissed as a distraction.

Henry gave a speech at a small ceremony that was boycotted by Moise's widow Martine, who was seriously injured in the attack.

"The death of the president must be the last act of a period of ignominy and intolerance."

Several thousand supporters of the late president demonstrated against Henry whom they accuse of being linked to the murder. Police prevented them from marching to the neighbourhood where Moise was killed.

The United Nations office issued a statement on the anniversary, expressing concern over "lack of tangible progress" in the search for justice.