Central America

El Salvador marks fifth consecutive homicide-free day in march

El Salvador has achieved its fifth day without homicides in March, continuing a trend of reduced violence under President Nayib Bukele’s administration. The country has seen 571 days without homicides due to a public security strategy, including the implementation of a state of exception.

According to official statistics from the National Civil Police, Thursday, March 8, ended with zero homicides nationwide. This marks the fifth day this month without any reported deaths due to violence, as confirmed by police figures.

These positive results are attributed to the Territorial Control Plan and the state of exception, during which the country has experienced 458 homicide-free days. Under this regime, there have been at least two months with 23 days without killings (July and November 2023) and two months with 24 days without murders (April 2023 and January 2024).

Since President Nayib Bukele took office in 2019, El Salvador has recorded 571 days without homicides due to the implementation of a comprehensive public security strategy.

The historically high homicide rates, which averaged 18.2 per day in 2015, have drastically reduced in El Salvador. In 2024, the daily average has dropped to less than 0.25, positioning the country as one of the safest in the Latin American region.

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Last year marked the safest year in El Salvador’s history, with significant reductions in homicides and other crimes. The country has moved away from being among the world’s most violent nations, with murder rates dropping from 53.31 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2018 to between 1.9 and 2.4, the lowest in decades.

Related Topics:Central America El 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.