Former Colombian military commander charged with murder of Jovenel Moise

A former Colombian military commander has been charged with the murder of Haitian President Jovenel Moise. According to the US Justice Department, Mario Antonio Palacios, 43, "participated in a plan to kidnap or kill the Haitian president." On Tuesday, he appeared in a Miami courtroom to face the allegations.

President Moise was killed by gunmen who attacked his home in Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital, on July 7.

Palacios is the first defendant to face charges, despite the fact that multiple arrests have been made in Haiti in connection with the killing.

A case was filed in the state of Florida accusing Mr Palacios, along with a group of approximately 20 other Colombian nationals and dual Haitian-American citizens, of "conspiracy to commit murder or kidnapping" outside the US, according to a statement released by the US Justice Department on Tuesday.

According to the report, the group was stated to have "originally concentrated on committing a kidnapping" but "ultimately ended in murdering".

"Palacios and others entered President Moise's residence in Haiti with the aim and purpose of killing him, and the president was slain," according to the statement.

Mr Palacios was recently caught in Panama while on his way to Colombia after being deported from Jamaica. He consented to travel to the United States, where an Interpol red notice had been issued requesting his arrest.

He is now in US custody and faces a possible sentence of life in prison if convicted of the charges.

Previous detainees included former Colombian military personnel, many of whom claimed they were recruited to offer "security services" in Haiti and were unaware of a plot to assassinate the president.

The inquiry into the death of Mr Moise, who was 53 years old, has been delayed, and it has been hampered even more by key officials' resignations. Death threats and intimidation have also been reported by investigators.

Separately, gunmen attempted to assassinate the current Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry during an event commemorating the country's independence anniversary on Saturday.

The prime minister's office said the assassination attempt was carried out by "bandits and terrorists," and that arrest warrants had been issued for the accused.

The surge in violence in Haiti, as well as the country's dismal economic state, exacerbated by multiple natural catastrophes in recent years, has led to an influx of Haitians looking for work in other nations.