April 22, 2025
The visit of Colombian President Gustavo Petro to Haiti on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, reignited debates surrounding the assassination of former President Jovenel Moïse and the role of Colombian mercenaries in the crime. In this context, André Michel, spokesperson for the Democratic and Popular Sector and a signatory of the December 21 Agreement, issued a stern warning to Lesly Voltaire, coordinator of the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC). “We warn the coordinator of the TPC, Architect Lesly Voltaire, against any kind of immoral and illegal schemes in this case,” Michel declared on January 23, 2025. This warning comes as tensions surrounding the judicial handling of the detained Colombian mercenaries in Haiti reach a new peak.
President Gustavo Petro’s visit, the first by a Colombian head of state since Jovenel Moïse’s assassination in July 2021, was presented as an important step in strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries. Petro, known for his progressive stance and commitment to human rights, expressed support for judicial collaboration while emphasizing respect for Haiti’s sovereignty. However, the visit also reignited concerns over potential foreign interference in the sensitive case of the Colombian mercenaries, several of whom remain detained in Haiti for their alleged involvement in Moïse’s assassination.
André Michel seized the opportunity to reiterate his opposition to any attempt to extradite the mercenaries to Colombia. “The Colombians involved in the assassination of Jovenel Moïse must be tried in Haitian courts and punished in the prisons of the Republic of Haiti,” he insisted. For Michel, ensuring justice on Haitian soil is crucial to maintaining the integrity of the judicial process and avoiding political manipulation.
Michel’s warning to Lesly Voltaire, coordinator of the TPC, reflects heightened distrust in this case. Michel suggested that Voltaire might be tempted to engage in illegal or immoral maneuvers to influence the handling of the case. “We warn against any kind of immoral and illegal schemes in this matter,” he reiterated, calling for transparency and fairness in the judicial process.
While Gustavo Petro’s visit opened new avenues for collaboration between Haiti and Colombia, André Michel’s statement serves as a reminder that the quest for justice for Jovenel Moïse must not be compromised. “This is our personal stance. It is the moral and political position of the December 21 Agreement,” Michel concluded.
