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Central America

Guatemala state of siege extended for feuding communities

AFP

Guatemala on Wednesday extended by a month a state of siege in two indigenous communities locked in a century-old land dispute that boiled over last month into a massacre of 13 people.

The state of siege, imposed a month ago, restricts certain constitutional rights, such as the bearing of arms and right to protest.

The government said the lingering causes that provoked the state of siege and “the presence of armed groups” meant an extension was needed, according to a decree published in the official gazette, Diario de Centro America.

It said the extension in the neighboring western municipalities of Nahuala and Santa Catarina Ixtahuacan was necessary to “maintain constitutional order, the security of the State and to recover the governability of the territory.”

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The state of siege must still be ratified by Congress, which is controlled by the governing party and its allies.

Last month, armed men with high caliber weapons ambushed a group of people from Santa Catarina Ixtahuacan who went to the village of Chiquix in Nahuala to pick corn, killing 13 people, including three children and a police officer.

The bodies of the three children, aged between five and 14, were chopped up into pieces and the victims were burned inside the truck they were traveling in.

Three people have been detained over the massacre.

Both warring communities are members of the Mayan K’iche tribe and have been fighting over land — at times violently — for more than 100 years.

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The Santa Catarina Ixtahuacan community claims those in Nahuala have stolen some of their land.

On January 7, a 6,500-strong contingent of police, soldiers and prosecutors came under fire when conducting searches and arrests in the Nahuala community as part of investigations into the massacre.

One police officer was killed and 19 injured.

Two days later, President Alejandro Giammattei offered a reward worth around $6,250 for information leading to the arrest of four indigenous people accused of taking part in both incidents.

On Tuesday, Giammattei took part in a new meeting with leaders of the two communities to try to find an agreement over the border between them.

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Indigenous people, many living in poverty, make up more than 40 percent of Guatemala’s population of almost 17 million people, according to official statistics.

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Central America

Bukele Tops Latin America’s Presidential Approval Ranking in June, Survey Finds

President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador, President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico, and President Laura Fernández of Costa Rica are the three highest-rated leaders in Latin America, according to the latest June 2026 presidential approval survey conducted by CB Global Data. The study places Peru’s interim president, José María Balcázar, at the bottom of the regional ranking.

Bukele leads the list with a 69.1% approval rating and a 27.6% disapproval rate, improving on the 67.5% positive image recorded in May. The Salvadoran president has maintained a state of emergency since March 2022 as the cornerstone of his anti-gang security strategy, a policy that continues to shape public perceptions of his administration.

Sheinbaum, Mexico’s first female president, ranks second with a 65.5% approval rating and 31% disapproval. Although she remains among the region’s most popular leaders, her support declined from the 67.8% approval registered in May.

Completing the top three is Costa Rican President Laura Fernández, who recently assumed office and now records a 56.1% favorable rating against 37.1% negative opinion. Her approval has risen significantly from the 52.7% reported a month earlier.

At the opposite end of the ranking is Peru’s interim president, José María Balcázar, who received only 18.2% positive approval while 71.7% of respondents expressed a negative view of his administration. Despite remaining last in the survey, he showed a slight improvement compared to previous measurements.

Second from the bottom is Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, with a 29.5% approval rating and 64.8% disapproval. Nevertheless, she registered the largest increase in positive perception among all leaders surveyed, gaining more than five percentage points compared with the previous month.

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo rounds out the group of lowest-rated leaders, posting a 33.1% approval rating against 63% disapproval. His support level declined from 36.9% in May.

Just outside the top three is President Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic, who achieved a 54.8% approval rating and 42.2% disapproval, despite a decline from the 60.2% support recorded a month earlier.

Paraguayan President Santiago Peña follows with a 48.3% favorable rating and 48.2% disapproval, improving slightly compared with May. Meanwhile, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ranks sixth with a 47.6% approval rating and 48.1% disapproval, down from 49.5% the previous month. Lula is expected to seek another term in Brazil’s presidential election scheduled for October 2026.

Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz fell to seventh place after experiencing the largest decline in the survey. His approval rating dropped to 46.4%, while disapproval climbed to 52.3%, representing a loss of more than nine percentage points compared with May.

The CB Global Data survey, conducted across 18 Latin American countries, reflects shifting public sentiment toward regional leaders and highlights the growing influence of Central American presidents among the continent’s most highly rated governments.

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Central America

Civil Protection Reports Dozens of Weather-Related Incidents Following Weekend Storms

El Salvador’s National Director of Civil Protection, Luis Amaya, on Monday presented a preliminary assessment of the impacts caused by heavy rainfall recorded between June 5 and June 7, which was linked to a low-pressure system that generated intense precipitation across parts of the country.

According to the report, authorities responded to five landslides, 38 fallen trees, 34 blocked roads, and 55 flooded homes. Officials also recorded three houses with minor damage, six urban flooding incidents, and 11 vehicles affected by floodwaters.

The severe weather also caused two rivers in the department of Santa Ana to overflow, increasing concerns about potential flooding in nearby communities.

Authorities urged residents to exercise caution when crossing rivers and streams, warning that water levels can rise suddenly even if rainfall is not occurring in the immediate area. Officials noted that precipitation upstream can rapidly increase river flow and create dangerous conditions.

Amaya stated that all institutions within the National Civil Protection System remain fully activated and prepared to respond to emergencies generated by the ongoing weather conditions.

Public Works Minister Romeo Rodríguez said the government has more than 1,300 pieces of equipment available to clear roads and respond to infrastructure-related emergencies.

“We are ready to ensure that the country’s roads remain accessible. We will be monitoring conditions closely to keep highways and roads open,” Rodríguez said.

The minister also renewed calls for the public to avoid throwing garbage onto streets and drainage systems, stressing that improper waste disposal contributes significantly to urban flooding, particularly in densely populated areas.

Authorities continue to monitor weather conditions as forecasts indicate the possibility of additional rainfall in the coming days.

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Central America

Civil Protection Urges Immediate Evacuations as Tropical Storm Cristina Brings Flooding Risks

El Salvador’s Civil Protection authorities urged residents living in high-risk areas to comply immediately with evacuation orders as Tropical Storm Cristina continues to bring heavy rainfall and dangerous conditions across the country.

Civil Protection Director Luis Amaya announced on Monday that 180 pre-equipped shelters are ready to receive families living in vulnerable communities, providing temporary refuge while the threat from the storm persists.

“If authorities ask you to evacuate, please do not refuse,” Amaya said. “While flooding may cause material losses, protecting human life and ensuring people’s safety must remain the top priority.”

Heavy rains and increased wave activity along the Pacific coast have already caused flooding in parts of La Libertad. According to official forecasts, Tropical Storm Cristina is expected to influence weather conditions throughout the week.

Amaya noted that the populations most at risk are those living near rivers, streams, and areas prone to landslides or slope failures.

To address concerns about personal property, the official stated that the National Civil Police and the Armed Forces have joined the emergency response plan to safeguard homes and belongings left behind by evacuees.

“We can guarantee that their belongings will remain safe and that their possessions will be protected while they stay in the shelters,” Amaya said.

He also highlighted the participation of several government institutions in the emergency response, including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, the Office of the First Lady, the National Civil Police, and the Armed Forces, among others.

As part of the National Contingency Plan, authorities have activated evacuation routes and shelter networks across the country to facilitate the safe relocation of residents from areas exposed to flooding, landslides, and other storm-related hazards.

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