Central America
Nicaragua opposition leader flees to Costa Rica to avoid detention
AFP
The head of Nicaragua’s opposition party Citizens Alliance for Liberty said Tuesday she had left the country for Costa Rica, fearing she would be added to the list of rival politicians arrested by President Daniel Ortega’s government.
“Nobody is safe anymore,” said Carmella Rogers, also known as Kitty Monterrey, in a televised interview with Telenoticias in Costa Rica — her first public appearance in several days.
“(Staying) didn’t make sense, they were going to take me to jail or they were going to deport me.”
Last week, officials canceled the CxL head’s national identity card and passport.
“I’ve been in hiding since Friday,” Monterrey said. “I was looking for a way out that had to be gradual to get here in a safe way. It was difficult and I’m tired, but here I am.”
The 71-year-old’s exile comes after her right-wing party on Friday was disqualified from standing in November’s election by the electoral court, which is dominated by the ruling party.
The party’s vice-presidential candidate Berenice Quezada had been placed under house arrest that week.
With three months to go before the country’s elections, Nicaragua’s government has detained 32 opposition politicians that they accused of treason.
Among them are seven potential candidates who could run against Ortega, who is seeking a fourth consecutive term.
The 75-year-old former guerilla first took office in 2007 as part of the left-wing Sandinista National Liberation Front.
His government faces sanctions from the United States and the European Union, which accuse him of humans rights violations and the repression of opposition figures, which began with anti-government protests in 2018.
Ortega accuses the opposition of trying to overthrow him with the support of the United States.
Despite her presence in Costa Rica, Monterrey, who has an American father and Nicaraguan mother, said: “I am never going to stop being Nicaraguan. I am going to continue to fight for Nicaragua, this does not end here.”
She will seek to legalize her stay in Costa Rica under her US citizenship.
“I think I will stay in Costa Rica if possible,” she said. “I want to be close to my country.”
Monterrey’s opponents blame her for blocking efforts by Nicaragua’s opposition parties and other social forces to mount a unified fight against Ortega.
“It’s not that we are divided, it’s that there have been different opinions,” said Monterrey, who has said the CxL is best-suited to lead the charge.
Even though it was clear the government “was committing fraud, we had to continue doing the impossible within the civic route,” she said.
Central America
Honduras coffee exports jump nearly 30% in March despite price drop
Coffee exports from Honduras rose by 29.6% year-on-year in March, according to data released Monday by the Instituto Hondureño del Café.
During the third month of the 2025–2026 harvest season, Honduras exported 1,373,817 46-kilogram bags of coffee, up from 1,059,744 bags shipped in March of the previous cycle.
Despite the increase in volume, the average price per bag fell to $307.55, compared to $364.70 recorded in the prior harvest.
Between October and March, total export revenues reached $1.36 billion, representing a 32% increase from the $1.032 billion reported during the same period of the 2024–2025 season.
The United States remained the main destination for Honduran coffee, accounting for 36.5% of total shipments. It was followed by Germany with 16.1% and Belgium with 12.4%.
In regional terms, Europe absorbed 52% of exports, while North America accounted for 42%, according to the institute’s report.
Honduras remains the largest coffee producer in Central America and ranks among the top six producers worldwide.
Central America
Guatemala extends state of prevention and expands it to new regions
The president of Guatemala, Bernardo Arévalo, announced on Monday that his government will extend the state of prevention for 15 more days in six departments and expand the measure to two additional regions as part of efforts to combat organized crime.
Speaking at a press conference, Arévalo said the decision was approved by the Cabinet and formalized through a decree. The measure will remain in place in the departments of Guatemala, Escuintla, Izabal, Petén, San Marcos, and Huehuetenango, and will now also apply to Sacatepéquez and Quetzaltenango.
The president emphasized that the strategy has contributed to reducing homicide rates in the country and will remain a key component of his administration’s security policy.
Defense Minister Henry Sáenz said the measures are “essential to strengthen the government’s presence in areas where security gaps existed” and to weaken organized criminal groups.
Under the state of prevention, the Policía Nacional Civil, supported by the military, is granted broader powers to confront criminal organizations, particularly gangs and drug trafficking networks. The measure also restricts public demonstrations, which can be dispersed by security forces.
Guatemala has been under heightened security measures since January 18, following a coordinated attack by gangs that left 11 police officers dead, prompting the government to reinforce its response to organized crime.
Central America
Costa Rica urges China to halt actions against Panama-flagged vessels
The government of Costa Rica on Saturday called on China to halt retaliatory actions against vessels flying the Panamaflag, amid escalating tensions over control of two strategic ports linked to the Panama Canal.
In a statement shared on social media, Costa Rica’s Foreign Ministry warned that the situation “puts global trade at risk” and expressed its “deep concern and strongest condemnation” over what it described as “arbitrary and unjustified delays and inspections in Chinese ports.”
The Costa Rican government urged “full respect for international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,” while reaffirming its “unconditional support and solidarity” with Panama.
San José’s position aligns with growing international criticism from countries including Honduras, Peru, Paraguay, Israeland Ukraine.
Paraguayan authorities described the detentions as “unacceptable” and pointed to what they called “undue pressure” on the Panamanian government.
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