Central America
Guatemalans demand resignation of attorney general
November 4 |
Thousands of Guatemalans, mostly Mayan indigenous, demanded this Friday in the streets the resignation of the attorney general, Consuelo Porras, whom they accuse of violating democracy by persecuting the elected president Bernardo Arévalo.
Carrying Guatemalan flags -blue and white- and signs demanding Porras’ resignation, a crowd protested in front of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Constitutional Court (highest judicial instance) and the Palace of Culture, former seat of government, in the capital.
The demonstrators traveled several kilometers on foot to reach these points, after starting from four entrances of Guatemala City to demand the departure of Porras, the prosecutor Rafael Curruchiche and the judge Fredy Orellana. All three are on a U.S. list of “corrupt” actors.
“We tell these corrupt people that we don’t want them anymore, their resignation has to be imminent and we will not take a step back” until we get them out, declared an activist who spoke over loudspeakers in front of the Prosecutor’s Office.
The protest took place one day after the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) disqualified Arevalo’s Semilla party, following an order issued by Judge Orellana in August for alleged irregularities in its registration. Another demonstration was called for this Saturday.
The party was disqualified on August 28 by the Registry of Citizens (electoral roll) by court order, which led Arevalo to denounce a “coup d’état” plan to prevent him from assuming power in January 2024.
However, the TSE temporarily lifted the disqualification on September 3 until the election process was formally completed on October 31.
The demonstration was called by indigenous groups and supported by other civil society entities and university students.
The peaceful march took place days after the end of two weeks of blockades of the country’s main highways, initiated on October 2 to demand the resignation of the three judicial officials.
Backed by the United States, the European Union, several governments and international organizations, the 65 year-old social democrat Arévalo considers that the three officials are an attack against democracy and seek to prevent him from assuming the presidency on January 14.
The crusade against Semilla was launched by Curruchiche after Arévalo was a surprise winner in the first round of elections on June 25 and went to the ballot on August 20, in which he obtained a wide victory with his promise to fight corruption, an endemic evil in the country.
Central America
U.S. and El Salvador maintain close partnership, embassy says
The Chargé d’Affaires of the United States Embassy in El Salvador, Naomi Fellows, said on Monday that relations between the two countries remain “very close” and that both governments continue to work together in several areas of shared interest.
Speaking at a press conference, Fellows highlighted the longstanding friendship between the United States and El Salvador, as well as the achievements reached through bilateral agreements.
“In terms of our relationship with El Salvador, it continues to be very strong, very close. We are partners on security issues, on economic development; partners on migration, and on many other matters,” she said.
Fellows added that the relationship remains solid and is expected to continue strengthening through joint actions and cooperation initiatives.
On security, she noted that the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has underscored the results of the measures implemented by the government of President Nayib Bukele to improve public safety in the country.
Senior U.S. officials have visited El Salvador to observe firsthand the impact of the Territorial Control Plan, including tours of the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT).
Fellows also emphasized the strong personal ties between the two nations, pointing to family and friendship connections that link Salvadorans and Americans.
Central America
Taiwan’s $10 million donation after 2001 earthquakes allegedly diverted in El Salvador
Amid the national tragedy left by the earthquakes of January 13 and February 13, 2001, a controversial corruption scandal emerged that later implicated former presidents Francisco Flores and Elías Antonio Saca, as well as senior executives of the ARENA party.
Although there were efforts to conceal a scheme involving the misuse of public funds, subsequent investigations revealed that between October 2003 and April 2004 the government of Taiwan, led at the time by President Chen Shui-bian, delivered at least three checks totaling $10 million in donations to El Salvador. The funds were diverted and never recorded by the Technical Secretariat for External Financing, the government body responsible for coordinating and monitoring international cooperation resources.
The plight of more than 1.5 million earthquake victims prompted an outpouring of international solidarity. However, it also fueled ambitions among sectors that allegedly took advantage of the emergency to improperly appropriate resources intended to ease the suffering of those affected.
Part of the $10 million donation was earmarked for the construction of housing for residents of Las Colinas, one of the communities hardest hit by the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck on January 13, 2001, at 11:35 a.m. Plans also included the creation of a memorial park to honor the 525 victims buried by landslides.
At a press conference in January 2014, Alejandro Flores, president of the Las Colinas community board, stated that residents received some assistance from Taiwanese cooperation funds. However, he clarified that this support came from different resources and that the destination of the $10 million donation was never known to them.
Central America
El Salvador reports safest year in its history, security cabinet says
Officials from the institutions that make up El Salvador’s Expanded Security Cabinet on Monday, January 5, presented the results achieved through the country’s security strategies during 2025.
Authorities highlighted a significant reduction in homicides, the arrest of all perpetrators involved in killings, and the seizure of millions of dollars’ worth of illegal drugs throughout the past year.
“We have reached the day when, as the Expanded Security Cabinet, we present the national security report,” said Minister of Security Gustavo Villatoro.
Villatoro detailed the number of days with zero homicides recorded during the administration of President Nayib Bukele, as well as during the state of exception in 2025.
“We have accumulated 1,102 days without homicides during President Nayib Bukele’s administration, of which 988 occurred during the state of exception,” Villatoro explained.
The security minister underscored the government’s fight against impunity, noting that in 2025 authorities arrested those responsible for every homicide reported during the year.
“We closed 2025 with 82 homicides, all of which have been solved. That means we achieved a 100% homicide clearance rate and 0% impunity in homicide cases,” Villatoro said.
“These figures clearly show that the security measures promoted by the government were exactly what the country needed, and today we can say with full authority that we are the safest country in the entire Western Hemisphere,” he added.
Villatoro also reported the homicide rate per 100,000 inhabitants at the end of the year.
“In 2024, we closed with a homicide rate of 1.9 per 100,000 inhabitants. In 2025, we reduced it to 1.3, which represents 32 fewer homicides compared to the previous year,” he said.
According to official data, of the 82 homicides recorded in 2025, 43 were linked to social intolerance, 31 to family-related disputes, and eight to criminal activity. Villatoro emphasized that El Salvador is the only country able to report a reduction of more than 50% in street and violent crimes, including theft, assault, rape, extortion, vehicle theft and robbery.
“2025 represents the safest year in our national history, and all of this is due to the daily efforts of thousands of men and women in uniform and in public service,” Villatoro stated.
Meanwhile, Defense Minister René Francis Merino Monroy noted that another key factor behind the country’s low crime figures has been the strengthened security shield implemented by authorities in the fight against drug trafficking.
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