Welcome to the Inquiry, I'm Sharma Enkhozia, each week, one question, four experts, and an answer.

It's the early hours of Wednesday, July the 7th.

A security camera records as dozens of armed men dressed in black approach a private home on a dark street.

As they get closer, they force a man, possibly a security guard, to life face down in the road.

When it's later, the property is stormed, shots are fired.

12 bullets hit and kill their target.

He's Jovenelle Maise, the president of Haiti.

They also shoot the first lady, Martin Maise, but she survives, along with their daughter, who hid in a bedroom.

The killers manage to clear several checkpoints and get past his security details.

None of his bodyguards are thought to have been injured.

Since then, many suspects have been questioned, and the country's political future seems uncertain.

So this week we're asking, why was the president of Haiti assassinated?

Parts 1. A turbulent past.

What words would you use to describe Haiti's history?

I would say tumultuous, but beautiful, and hopeful.

I am Marlena Dowett. I am a professor of African American and African diaspora studies at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Haiti is one of Marlena's specialisms. She also has family ties to the country.

Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere with a history of poor governance.

But to fully understand the origins of its problems, you need to understand its history.

The country shares the Caribbean island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic and used to be called Sandomang when it was a French colony.

From the 18th century, Haiti was ruled by the French who ran lucrative coffee and sugar plantations.

The whole economy was based on slavery.

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