Central America

Honduras rejects minister’s inclusion in list of alleged corrupt officials

Photo: @RicSalgadoB

December 22 |

The Honduran Secretary of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Enrique Renia, rejected Thursday the inclusion of the Minister of Strategic Planning, Ricardo Salgado, in a report prepared by the US State Department with political and business actors of Central America allegedly linked to corruption cases.

“Honduras on principle rejects any unilateral measure contrary to international law, whether these are blockades, sanctions or lists drawn up in a subjective manner, as they are imposed mechanisms against sovereign countries,” the foreign minister stated through his X account.

He also expressed his solidarity with Salgado and condemned such “action for purely ideological reasons”. “It is absurd,” he pointed out.

For his part, Salgado published a statement in which he asserted that “the U.S. government has always been aligned with the corruption and impunity of the National Party and the Liberal Party in Honduras.”

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“My inclusion in the Engel list only demonstrates that it is made under political criteria and does not defend democracy or honesty,” he declared.

In addition, he expressed his pride at being included in a list for political reasons, “for being on the side of the Honduran people and for ratifying my unwavering anti-imperialist condition”.

Former President Manuel Zelaya (2006-2009) joined the rejection of the unilateral U.S. list. Through X, the former president stated that “to include Salgado in the list of sanctioned persons of the United States, in spite of the fact that she has never had a visa, represents an absurdity in its imperialist policy against leaders of the Latin American left”.

In the opinion of Zelaya, who had to abandon the Presidency due to a coup d’état carried out in complicity with the White House, “the world has advanced in its ideas, while the United States has remained frozen”.

The White House included four Nicaraguans, four Guatemalans, three Hondurans and three Salvadorans in a new list prepared unilaterally and without any semblance of legitimacy.

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They were included in this sanctioning list under the presumption that they are corrupt and anti-democratic actors, an aspect contained in Section 353, a tool that supposedly contributes to governance and institutional transparency.

On the Honduran side, in addition to Salgado, businessmen Mohamed Yusuf Amdani Bai and Cristian Adolfo Sánchez were included.

The list began with a total of 21 Hondurans; then 15 more were added in 2022. In 2023, another 13 officials, former officials and political figures were included.

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.