Central America

Detained Nicaraguan opposition figures’ health suffering, say families

AFP

Opposition figures jailed in the run-up to November’s presidential election in Nicaragua are suffering from serious health issues including blackouts and loss of teeth, family members said on Monday.

The more than 40 people detained since June last year are suffering from “physical and psychological deterioration … due to imbalanced nutrition, lack of regular access to sunlight and most of all isolation and solitary confinement,” said the family members in a statement.

They published the statement after being allowed to visit their loved ones at a police cell in Managua on January 21 and 23.

Prisoners are also suffering from depression, anxiety, weight loss and fainting.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

The government launched a clampdown on opposition figures in June and jailed seven potential presidential candidates amongst the more than 40 detained on charges of unspecified attacks on Nicaragua’s “sovereignty.”

It led to President Daniel Ortega, alongside his Vice President wife Rosario Murillo, winning a fourth consecutive term in office in a vote branded a “farce” and “pantomime” by many in the international community.

It came just over three years after an even more brutal clampdown against protesters that claimed more than 300 lives.

Amongst the worst affected prisoners are lawyer Roger Reyes, who is suffering from “depression, anxiety and memory loss,” and former deputy foreign minister Jose Pallais, 68, who has lost almost 40 kilograms (88 pounds), rendering him weak and prone to fainting.

Sociologist and opposition activist Violeta Granera, 70, “is losing her teeth, has difficulty eating and has red marks on her face due to a lack of sun.”

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

Former diplomat Mauricio Diaz, 70, fainted twice and has had blackouts, while former ambassador Edgar Parrales, 79, has suffered nightmares.

Authorities have not commented on the accusations.

The detainees are amongst around 170 opposition figures arrested in the last three years.

Central America

U.S. and Guatemala Sign Trade Deal Granting Zero Tariffs to Most Exports

The United States signed a reciprocal trade agreement with Guatemala on Friday, under which 70.4% of Guatemalan exports will enter the U.S. market tariff-free.

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo highlighted the importance of the agreement, stating that it creates a framework of cooperation, certainty, and new opportunities for producers, workers, and entrepreneurs in the country. His remarks were shared in a video published on his official social media channels.

In 2025, 30.3% of Guatemala’s total exports were destined for the United States, amounting to approximately $4.3 billion. As a result, the agreement is expected to directly benefit key sectors of the Guatemalan economy, including agribusiness, manufacturing, and the textile industry.

“Today we have taken another step toward consolidating a country that, when it moves forward united, generates confidence, attracts investment, and creates real development opportunities for all its people,” Arévalo added.

The agreement with Guatemala follows a similar trade deal signed by the United States with El Salvador on Thursday, which includes the elimination of a 10% tariff on Salvadoran imports.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

Central America

Panama Supreme Court Strikes Down Panama Ports Concession as Unconstitutional

Panama’s Supreme Court of Justice has ruled unconstitutional the concession contract granted in 1997 to Panama Ports Company (PPC), a subsidiary of the Chinese conglomerate CK Hutchison, which operates two strategic ports along the interoceanic canal. The decision was announced on Thursday, January 29, 2026, following two lawsuits filed by the Comptroller General’s Office.

The ruling directly affects the management of the ports of Balboa, on the Pacific coast, and Cristóbal, on the Atlantic side, both of which have been operated by the company for nearly three decades. According to Panama’s Comptroller General, Anel Flores, an audit uncovered irregularities in the contract that resulted in more than $1.3 billion failing to enter state coffers.

“It is a predatory contract, abusive to the interests of the country,” Flores stated.

The Supreme Court determined that Law 5 of 1997, its subsequent amendments, and the automatic extension granted in 2021 are unconstitutional. The ruling noted that the contract renewal took place without adequate oversight and amid allegations of corruption, despite the Panamanian state holding only a 10% stake in the company.

Central America

Guatemala President Says Starlink Terminal Found Inside Prison

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo revealed on Tuesday that a Starlink terminal was discovered inside a prison in the country, highlighting corruption and the illegal introduction of advanced communication technology into the penitentiary system.

Arévalo did not specify which prison the device was found in but stressed that Starlink’s ability to connect directly to low-orbit satellites makes it particularly difficult to disrupt, posing a serious security risk.

The disclosure was made during a press conference attended by Interior Minister Marco Antonio Villeda and Defense Minister Henry Sáenz.

On January 6, specialized units of Guatemala’s National Civil Police (PNC), members of the Army and prison security personnel carried out Operation Sentinel at the Renovación 1 Maximum Security Prison for Men, located in Escuintla. According to the Interior Ministry, the operation aimed to reduce criminal activity, prevent illicit acts and stop the trafficking of prohibited items inside the prison.

During the operation, authorities also dismantled businesses operating near several prisons after detecting routers that were allegedly used to redirect internet signals into penitentiary facilities, according to local outlet Emisoras Unidas.

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

Tensions escalated further over the weekend of January 17 and 18, when inmates affiliated with gangs staged riots in three prisons. During the unrest, they took prison guards and a psychologist hostage, demanding extra-large beds, air conditioning, transfers to other facilities and access to the internet.