Central America

Calls for full investigation into murder of denationalized nicaraguan opponent

The family of Roberto Danilo Samcam Ruiz, a Nicaraguan opposition figure, retired Army major, and Spanish national, who was shot dead a month ago in San José, Costa Rica, has called on Costa Rican authorities to carry out a thorough investigation into the killing, which has deeply shaken the Nicaraguan exile community in the country.

“We call on the Government of Costa Rica to conduct a comprehensive investigation into Roberto’s murder, to identify and prosecute both the material and intellectual perpetrators, as well as their accomplices,” said Gabriel Samcam, one of the retired major’s sons, during a press conference.

Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) reported that it is actively investigating the incident, which occurred on June 19 in the Moravia district of San José. According to authorities, an individual entered the condominium where Samcam lived and, without saying a word, allegedly opened fire multiple times, hitting him in the chest and limbs.

Samcam had been living in exile in Costa Rica since July 2018 due to security threats, after becoming a vocal critic of the Nicaraguan government and military. In 2023, he was among 94 opposition figures stripped of their nationality and assets by the Ortega regime, which accused them of “treason.” He later became a naturalized Spanish citizen.

Central America

Panama sees nearly 5 million TEUs moved amid global trade uncertainty

Container movement at Panama’s ports grew by 1.65% in the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2024, reaching a total of 4,829,562 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) reported on Friday.

“This growth reaffirms the resilience of Panama’s maritime sector, despite global trade uncertainties and local operational challenges,” the AMP said in a statement.

Transshipment cargo, which accounts for roughly 89% of total port traffic, saw a 1.2% increase between January and July compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, local cargo volume rose by 5.7%, driven by an uptick in domestic commercial and logistics activity, explained Max Florez, Director General of Ports and Auxiliary Industries at the AMP.

The AMP oversees about twenty ports in total, most of them small and focused on cabotage, fishing, and local passenger transport. The country’s five main ports, located near the Interoceanic Canal, are operated by companies from the U.S., Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore.

Central America

Guatemalan court acquits anti-corruption prosecutor in widely criticized trial

A court in Guatemala acquitted a former anti-corruption prosecutor on Friday who had been accused of dereliction of duty, in a case widely criticized by the international community. However, he will remain in detention due to other controversial charges.

Dozens of anti-corruption prosecutors and judges have been arrested or forced into exile since 2022, after a wave of accusations launched by Guatemala’s controversial Attorney General, Consuelo Porras, who has been sanctioned by both the United States and the European Union for being “corrupt” and “undemocratic.”

The prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence against former prosecutor Stuardo Campo, prompting Judge Magda Martínez to declare: “There is no choice but to acquit.” Campo responded to the verdict by saying, “The judge has delivered a fair ruling. We were acquitted of a charge that was unjustly brought against us,” as family and friends applauded in the courtroom.

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo welcomed the decision, stating on X: “There was no evidence—only political persecution.”

The European Union Delegation in Guatemala also praised the ruling, posting on X: “Today, justice takes a crucial step in favor of Stuardo Campo, who has suffered criminalization by anti-democratic actors.”

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Campo served as head of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office from 2016 to 2021, before being reassigned by Porras to the human smuggling unit.

Central America

Churches in Honduras call for respect of citizens’ will ahead of elections

Honduras’ Catholic and Evangelical churches issued a joint statement on Friday urging the country’s political leaders to respect the will of the people in the upcoming general elections on November 30.

“Let our message be clear: the will of the citizens, legitimately expressed at the polls, must be respected on November 30 and every four years. We do not forget the past, but we look to the future with hope and determination,” declared the Episcopal Conference and the Evangelical Fellowship of Honduras in a joint communiqué.

The message was delivered by Archbishop José Vicente Nácher of Tegucigalpa and Pastor Gerardo Irías during an event in the capital city, which also included representatives from the private sector.

The churches also called on “all Hondurans of faith” to join in an extended prayer for the country, which will include a nationwide prayer walk in various cities on August 16.