Central America

UN and IACHR concerned about “extremely urgent” situation of indigenous people in Nicaragua

Photo: VOA

April 27 |

International organizations condemned on Wednesday the murder of Nicaraguan community leader Bernabé Palacios at the hands of an armed group in the Autonomous Region of the Northern Caribbean Coast of the country, and called for an investigation to prosecute and punish those responsible in view of the “extreme urgency” of the situation of indigenous people in the country.

Palacios, 44 years old, belonging to the community of Alal, Mayangna Sauni As territory, was murdered on Monday, according to local media.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) expressed in a statement its solidarity with the family of the indigenous leader; and said that the murder took place in the context of the defense of the land.

A report issued by the Center for Justice and Human Rights of the Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua (CEJUDHCAN) states that armed conflicts in indigenous communities have left at least 49 people killed between 2011 and 2020.

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The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), based in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday requested the Inter-American Court of Human Rights to extend the provisional measures to the inhabitants of the Musawas and Wilú indigenous communities of the Mayangna Sauni As Territory, in the Northern Caribbean Coast Region of Nicaragua.

The Commission considered that the inhabitants of the identified communities are in a situation of “extreme urgency” due to the irreparable damage to their rights.

“Provisional measures are issued by the Inter-American Court in cases of extreme gravity and urgency to avoid irreparable harm to persons. They are binding on States,” the IACHR recalled.

Nicaragua maintains in international forums that it is making progress in the defense of indigenous peoples and in the restitution of their rights. On April 21, Nicaragua’s ambassador to the UN, Jaime Hermida, said that in the country “pride in ethnic roots is promoted in all areas”.

However, experts question this official discourse. Recently, lawyer Becky McCrea, who has worked for years as a defender of Nicaragua’s indigenous territories, told Voice of America that the Nicaraguan state has left these communities defenseless and in some cases has allowed forced displacement.

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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.

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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.

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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.