Pétion-Ville, August 17, 2025 — Businessman, attorney, and former presidential candidate Joseph Harry Brétous was brutally assassinated on Sunday evening in the Pèlerin 2 neighborhood. The notorious scene: masked gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire as he passed near his vehicle, striking him in the head. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but did not survive.
Who Was Joseph Harry Brétous?
Brétous, a known entrepreneur and lawyer, had participated in Haiti’s 2015 presidential race, representing the Mete Ayiti Kanpe political party. He was preparing to turn 68 around the time of his death. His passing resonates deeply amid a surge in violence targeting public figures.
A Pattern of Political Violence
His killing in Pèlerin 2 is the latest in a series of high-profile assassinations afflicting the neighborhood:
- Monferrier Dorval, the bâtonnier (bar association head), murdered in August 2020 in Pèlerin 2.
- President Jovenel Moïse, assassinated in July 2021 in a nearby sector of Pèlerin.
These events highlight a persistent vulnerability of Haiti’s elites and underscore the country’s deeper systemic crisis, where impunity runs rampant and security forces remain crippled.
Unanswered Questions
To date, Haitian authorities have issued no official statements regarding the motive, suspects, or progress in the investigation. Local communities are left in shock and growing concern about the state’s ability to safeguard civic leaders and public figures.
Implications
- Erosion of Public Confidence: The frequency of high-profile assassinations is eroding faith in state authority and the rule of law.
- Dangerous Precedents: When political and professional figures are targeted, it risks normalizing political violence.
- Need for Accountability: Victims and citizens alike are demanding justice and a cap on the deadly cycle of targeted killings.
Conclusion
The murder of Joseph Harry Brétous is not an isolated tragedy—it fits within an alarming trend. Without reforms and genuine security sector interventions, Haiti remains mired in a climate where violence and impunity overpower democratic norms.
