Jovenel Moise Haitian businessman and politician, President of Haiti from February 7, 2017 to July 7, 2021 Date of Birth: 26.06.1968 Country: Haiti

1. Early Life and Education
2. Business Ventures and Political Involvement
3. Presidential Candidacy and Elections
4. Presidency and Assassination
5. Awards and Honors

Early Life and Education

Jovenel Moïse was born in Trou-du-Nord, Northeast Department, Haiti. His father, Etienne Moïse, was a merchant and farmer, while his mother, Lucia Bruno, was a seamstress. The family moved to Port-au-Prince in 1974, where he received his education.

Business Ventures and Political Involvement

In 1996, Moïse married Martine Marie Étienne Joseph, his high school sweetheart, with whom he had three children. He left the capital that same year and settled in Port-de-Paix, where he founded his first company, JOMAR Auto Parts. He also engaged in agricultural activities, owning a banana plantation in the Northwest Department.

Moïse expanded his business interests in 2001 by investing in water management, building a hydroelectric dam and water distribution networks in the Northeast and Northwest Departments. He became a member of the Northwest Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCINO) in 2004, later serving as its president and general secretary of the Haitian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIH).

In 2008, Moïse established Compagnie Haïtienne d'Énergie S.A. (COMPHENER S.A.), an energy company that provided solar and wind power to 10 municipalities in the Northwest Department. He also founded Agritrans in 2012, a company specializing in agriculture, which contributed to the establishment of Haiti's first agricultural free trade zone.

Presidential Candidacy and Elections

In 2015, Haitian President Michel Martelly named Moïse as the candidate of his Tet Kale Haitian Party (PHTK) for the October 2015 presidential election, as Martelly himself was ineligible to run. Moïse placed first in the first round of elections on October 25, 2015, with 32.8% of the vote, ahead of his main rival, Jude Celestin, who received 25.2%. A second round of elections was scheduled for December 27, 2015, but Moïse's opponent alleged fraud and disputed the results. Protests erupted in the country.

In response, President Martelly appointed a special commission in December 2015 to investigate electoral irregularities. In early January 2016, the commission found evidence of electoral misconduct and annulled the results, ordering a re-run. In the re-run election held in November 2016, Moïse won in the first round with 55.7% of the vote, while Jude Celestin trailed with only 19.5%. Moïse was sworn in as President of Haiti on February 7, 2017.

Presidency and Assassination

During his presidency, Moïse faced significant political, economic, and security challenges. He was assassinated on July 7, 2021, in an attack by armed assailants who stormed his residence.

Awards and Honors

President Moïse was awarded the Order of Brilliant Jade with Grand Cordon by the President of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen, in May 2018. Tsai praised the economic initiatives undertaken by Moïse's government.