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Central America

Honduras remains among the most violent countries in Central America despite drop in homicides

Despite not being at war and reporting a decrease in crime rates, Honduras remains one of the most violent countries in Central America and the region, according to Migdonia Ayestas, director of the Violence Observatory at the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH).

“Even with all the reductions in crime, we still average six victims per day, and on average one of them is a woman,” Ayestas told EFE in Tegucigalpa. “This shows that, despite not being in a war, Honduras continues to rank among the most violent countries in Central America and across the continent.”

According to Ayestas, violence and crime have dropped more than 40 percentage points, but this improvement mainly reflects homicide rates — the international standard for measuring insecurity. Other forms of violence, however, remain alarming, especially sexual violence, which affects an estimated 88% of women nationwide.

The situation is particularly concerning for women. So far in 2025, 162 women have been killed violently, highlighting that homicides are only part of the problem. Many attacks occur within homes or community spaces — places that should be safe.

Among girls aged 10 to 14, the risk of experiencing violence is especially high. Ayestas also emphasized that firearms are the main weapons used in injuries and deaths, with many believed to be illegally trafficked.

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Furthermore, beyond gender-based violence, many Honduran families continue to suffer from extortion and common crime, adding further strain to daily life in one of the region’s most dangerous environments.

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Central America

Guatemala Court Voids List of Candidates for Top Prosecutor Position

President of Guatemala cannot remove attorney general from office

Constitutional Court of Guatemala on Thursday annulled the shortlist of six candidates for attorney general and head of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, ordering authorities to repeat the evaluation phase of the selection process.

The ruling came in response to a legal appeal filed by Raúl Amílcar Falla Ovalle, who challenged the way professional experience had been assessed for some applicants, particularly those with careers in the judiciary.

As a result of the decision, the selection process has been suspended, and the Postulation Commission must return to the stage in which the original 48 applicants were evaluated.

According to the ruling, the commission must reapply the grading criteria without automatically counting years served as judges as equivalent to the professional experience required for the position.

“The Postulation Commission for the election of the Attorney General and Head of the Public Prosecutor’s Office is ordered to reassess the applicants by strictly applying the approved grading table,” the resolution states.

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The Constitutional Court also stressed that the process must guarantee merit, competence, and suitability, while ensuring greater transparency in the assignment of scores.

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Central America

U.S. extradites Iranian man over alleged sanctions evasion scheme

The United States has extradited from Panama an Iranian national accused of evading economic sanctions against Iran by illegally exporting U.S. technology. He is scheduled to appear this Monday before a court in Seattle.

Reza Dindar, 44, was extradited on April 17 after being detained in Panama since July 2025 on charges related to export control violations between 2011 and 2012, allegedly carried out through companies based in China.

The defendant appeared before a U.S. district court in Seattle, where he faces charges of violating sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran in 1995 during the administration of Bill Clinton. These sanctions prohibit the unauthorized export, re-export, or supply—directly or indirectly—of U.S. goods, technology, or services to Iran or its government.

According to the indictment, between 2010 and 2014, Dindar led the company New Port Sourcing Solutions in Xi’an, China, which allegedly concealed the procurement of U.S. products for shipment to clients in Iran.

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Central America

Bukele administration surpasses 1,100 homicide-free days amid ongoing crackdown

El Salvador's PNC adds 85 days without murders and April is on track to be the safest in Salvadoran history

On Saturday, April 18, the Policía Nacional Civil (PNC) reported that no homicides were recorded in El Salvador, bringing the total to 17 days without murders.

With this update, the country has accumulated 91 homicide-free days so far in 2026. January closed with 27 such days, followed by 24 in February and 23 in March, according to police data.

During the administration of President Nayib Bukele, a total of 1,193 days without homicides have been registered. Of those, 1,079 have occurred since the implementation of the state of exception.

This extraordinary security measure has been extended 49 times by the Asamblea Legislativa de El Salvador, with the latest extension in effect from April 1 to April 30, 2026. Under the measure, more than 91,700 gang members and collaborators have been detained and prosecuted for illicit association.

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