Haiti: Lawyer Phénil Gordon Désir arrested in Moïse assassination probe

Phénil Gordon Désir, a lawyer and leader of the Ayiti 2054 political party, was arrested on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, in a Pétion-Ville supermarket. The arrest was conducted by the Haitian National Police's Central Directorate of the Judicial Police (DCPJ), with some reports indicating Interpol involvement.

Désir has been wanted since July 2021 in connection with the assassination of former Haitian President Jovenel Moïse. He is suspected of involvement in the preparation and logistical support of the conspiracy. Investigations have also reportedly linked him to a $15,000 transfer in June 2021 intended for the acquisition of munitions and equipment for a group associated with Christian Emmanuel Sanon.

While government sources have suggested he may be transferred to the United States, no official confirmation regarding extradition has been released by Haitian or American authorities. This arrest follows the September 2026 transfer of 18 other defendants, including Joseph Félix Badio and 17 former Colombian military members, to federal court in Florida.