Central America

Central American mayors visit El Salvador to discuss regional tech hub and municipal collaboration

Jorge Alejandro Aldana Bardales, the mayor of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, and Mayer Mizrachi, the mayor of Panama City, are currently visiting El Salvador. On Thursday, August 1, they took the opportunity to participate in the Conga Bus, which led the Post Office Parade marking the start of the patronal festivities in the San Salvador district within the municipality of San Salvador Centro.

During their visit, the Central American mayors are scheduled to meet with Mario Durán, the mayor of San Salvador Centro, and Diego Miranda, the mayor of San José, Costa Rica. The agenda will focus on issues such as mobility, vulnerability, investment promotion, job creation, and most notably, the potential to develop a technological hub in Central America from local government efforts to attract digital investments in the region.

Jorge Aldana Bardales, mayor of the Central District of Honduras, which includes Tegucigalpa and Comayagüela, shared this information on his social media. Previously a journalist and activist, Aldana Bardales, who was elected mayor in 2021, has announced his intention to seek re-election for another term.

Meanwhile, Panamanian mayor Mayer Mizrachi Matalon has already met with Luis Rodríguez, the director of the San Salvador Metropolitan Area Council (Coamss). Rodríguez assured Mizrachi that he has a strong ally in Coamss.

“The operational system of the Salvadoran government is admirable. Efficiency and clearly defined priorities consistently over time,” Mizrachi commented after viewing project models during the meeting with Coamss’s director. Mizrachi, who has been Panama’s mayor since July 1, previously visited the “Chivopets” veterinary hospital founded in El Salvador, which he plans to replicate in Panama.

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Mizrachi, a businessman who won the Panama City mayoral election in May 2024 through a novel audiovisual and viral video campaign, presents himself on X as an entrepreneur and “Chacalde”—a blend of the words chacal and mayor. He is the political nephew of former Panamanian president Ricardo Martinelli, and recently, a Panamanian high court dismissed a case related to money laundering known as “Criptext,” which had been open for nine years.

Related Topics:Costa Rica Guatemala Panamá San Salvador

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Central America

Panama grants Martinelli 72-hour extension to travel to Nicaragua

On Monday (March 31, 2025), Panama extended the safe-conduct pass for former President Ricardo Martinelli by three more days to allow him to travel to Nicaragua, after the Central American country refused to receive him due to concerns over an alleged Interpol arrest warrant.

“The National Government has decided to extend the validity of the safe-conduct pass for an additional seventy-two (72) hours, until the end of Thursday, April 3, 2025,” the Panamanian Foreign Ministry stated in a communiqué. The original permit was set to expire Monday at midnight (05:00 GMT on Tuesday).

The Foreign Ministry explained that regarding the ‘humanitarian asylum’ granted to Martinelli last Thursday, which was set to expire Monday at midnight, the Nicaraguan government requested clarifications about an apparent Interpol alert, which had already been dismissed as inadmissible.

Additionally, the Panamanian Supreme Court of Justice, as the highest authority of the Judicial Branch, stated on Monday that it had “no objections” to granting asylum and a safe-conduct to Martinelli, as it falls under the jurisdiction of the Executive Branch.

Central America

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary urges Mexico to strengthen Guatemala border

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revealed on Monday that during last week’s meeting with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, she urged Mexico to reinforce its border with Guatemala and share biometric datawith U.S. authorities.

“I gave her a list of things that President Trump would love to see. And it was exceptional. It was supposed to be a half-hour meeting, but we talked for nearly two hours. It was very productive,” Noem said in an interview with Fox News.

The Homeland Security Secretary requested that Sheinbaum, who has already deployed 10,000 National Guard troopsalong Mexico’s northern border with the U.S., also secure Mexico’s southern border with Guatemala.

Noem added that she also asked the Mexican president to share biometric data with the U.S., to which Sheinbaum responded that she was “willing to discuss it,” although she acknowledged that it could be a controversial issue in her country.

Central America

Panama police clarifies that Interpol alert for Martinelli is still pending

Panama’s National Police clarified on Sunday that an Interpol alert request for former President Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014) is still under review and has yet to be confirmed. Martinelli was granted a safe-conduct pass last Thursday to leave the Nicaraguan embassy, where he has been seeking asylum since February 2024 after being convicted of corruption.

“The National Police clarifies that there is currently an active process for an Interpol alert, requested by Judge Baloisa Marquínez, against former President Ricardo Martinelli. This request must be analyzed by Interpol’s General Secretariat (headquartered in France) for approval or rejection. If approved, it will be notified to member countries,” the police stated in a press release sent to EFE.

According to the statement, “at the moment, it remains an ongoing procedure, and former President Martinelli does not have a confirmed alert.”

The announcement came hours after National Police Director Jaime Fernández had told the press that an “Interpol alert” for Martinelli had been received on Friday.