Bogota, October 6, 2026.- Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella instructed his Ministries of Defence and Justice on Tuesday to provide legal and financial support to the families of the 17 former Colombian soldiers, who had fallen into custody in the United States. The latter are prosecuted for their alleged role in the assassination of former Haitian President Jovenel Moïse. The announcement comes a few weeks after their transfer from Haiti to the United States.
According to the Spanish media Demócrata, this directive entrusts concretely to the Minister of Defence, General Jorge Mora, and to the Minister of Justice, Iván Cancino, the responsibility of ensuring the legal defence of detainees while providing economic assistance to their relatives.
Moreover, the Colombian president questioned the level of involvement of these former soldiers in the assassination of Jovenel Moïse. « The righteous must not pay for the sins of the guilty »he said, calling for a precise determination of individual responsibility. He assures that Colombian detainees will not be left alone and will receive support to defend them.
On September 20, 18 people related to the assassination of Jovenel Moïse were transferred from Haiti to the United States. The US Federal Prosecutor ' s Office currently has 30 persons formally charged in this case, according to Demócrata. The US authorities are continuing their investigations to identify the material perpetrators and those suspected of financing, facilitating or supporting the operation.
According to the US Department of Justice investigation cited by the Spanish media, the plot involved actors in Haiti, Colombia and the United States. Twenty-two former members of the Colombian army were reportedly recruited as part of the operation leading to the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse on 7 July 2021 at his home. His wife, Martine Moïse, was seriously injured during the attack.
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