Haitian President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in an attack on his private residence.

According to The Associated Press, the country’s interim Premier Claude Joseph issued a statement Wednesday calling it a “hateful, inhumane and barbaric act.”

Joseph said First Lady Martine Moise was shot in the overnight attack and hospitalized.

Police have been deployed to the National Palace and the upscale community of Petionville and will be sent to other areas, Joseph said.

Moise had been ruling by decree for more than two years after the country failed to hold elections, which led to Parliament being dissolved.

Haiti was expected to hold general elections later this year.