Govt expressed doubt about state of exception’s utility amid continued violence and established diplomatic relations with China.

Although police claimed decrease in homicides, violence continued. Amid state of exception, extended in Feb until April to tackle extortion but which so far has yielded few results, former President Porfirio Lobo 5 March called for “Bukele-style” policy to improve outcomes, referring to El Salvador’s heavy-handed tactics to tackle gangs. National police 17 March published graph showing decrease in homicides, allegedly due to measure. Violent incidents continued, however. Notably, unknown assailants 4 March killed six in Comayagüela city; armed men 6 March killed nine in Comayagua city. President Castro 7 March lashed out at high-ranking security officials, criticising their failure to prevent violence despite state of exception, signalling govt’s uncertainty about whether to rely on measure to tackle insecurity.

Govt established diplomatic ties with China. Castro 14 March instructed FM Reina to establish diplomatic relations with China, citing, among other things, hope for more aid; Taiwan same day warned that Honduras could fall into China’s debt trap, disguised as selfless aid. Honduras 25 March formally established diplomatic ties with China and severed them with Taiwan.

In other important developments. U.S. court 28 March sentenced Herlinda Bobadilla, leader of Montes Bobadilla trafficking clan, to 20 years in prison on drug trafficking charges.

Congress elected new Supreme Court magistrates, and govt extended state of emergency until April.

Lawmakers elected new Supreme Court judges. After four failed attempts, Congress 16 Feb elected 15 magistrates who will comprise Supreme Court for next seven years. As in previous elections, lawmakers voted for judges politically aligned with their own party; ruling Libre party secured six seats, National Party five and Liberal Party four. With no party able to secure majority of justices, process marked step toward creation of checks and balances. UN and international mission sent to observe selection 17 Feb praised it as step forward compared with previous processes, but expressed concerns about imposition of political quotas. Honduras’ Saviour Party, which played crucial role in President Castro’s electoral victory, 16 Feb dismissed election as “partisan-driven” amid deepening divide with govt.

Govt extended state of emergency. Head of Police Gustavo Sánchez 7 Feb said state of emergency, first imposed in Dec 2022 to tackle extortion, had reduced average number of homicides per day from nine in 2022 to seven so far in 2023. Authorities 21 Feb confirmed its extension by 45 days and expansion to 48 other municipalities across country.

U.S. prosecutors revealed details in corruption case of former president. Following first anniversary of former President Hernández’s detention, U.S. prosecutors 10 Feb said Honduras’ powerful Rosenthal family had bribed him to facilitate their money-laundering and drug-trafficking activities.

Govt extended state of emergency amid efforts to tackle extortion, and congress failed to elect new Supreme Court members.

Govt extended and expanded state of emergency. After govt imposed state of emergency in Dec 2022 to tackle apparent rise in extortion, Honduran Press Secretariat 7 Jan announced extension by 45 days and expansion to 73 other municipalities across country. Head of Police Gustavo Sánchez 3 Jan said police had dismantled 38 criminal gangs, apprehended 652 gang members and served 717 arrest warrants and that this had been done with “no complaints of human rights violations”. Meanwhile, shoot-out between security forces and gang members 30 Jan left one police officer dead in capital Tegucigalpa.

First attempt to elect Supreme Court members failed. Nominating Board 23 Jan published list of 45 candidates for election of new Supreme Court members, from which Congress elects 15 members. Political tensions simmered ahead of 25 Jan vote since court members are often elected along party lines. Notably, both ruling Libre party and opposition National Party throughout Jan accused each other of planning violent mobilisations on day of election. Congress 25 Jan failed to elect new Supreme Court members; unclear when Congress will convene for new vote, which must occur before 11 Feb deadline.

State of exception came into effect in two cities marked by high levels of violence; govt and UN agreed on memorandum for next phase of international anti-corruption body.

Govt imposed state of exception in some areas of Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula. Amid mounting pressure to combat apparent rise in extortion, President Castro 3 Dec signed executive decree imposing state of exception on 162 neighbourhoods in capital Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula city for one month, starting 6 Dec; authorities 6 Dec announced deployment of 20,000 security forces to ensure compliance. State of exception can be extended by Congress and suspends citizen’s freedoms of movement and assembly. Security minister 13 Dec announced that since govt had introduced measure, extortion had fallen by 40% and 228 gang members had been arrested. Shoot-out between security forces and gang members 19 Dec left two people dead, including one military police officer, in La Peña neighbourhood of Tegucigalpa. Police 29 Dec called for measure’s extension to several other cities.

Govt and UN signed memorandum to establish UN-backed anti-corruption body. Castro 14 Dec met with UN Sec-Gen António Guterres to discuss International Commission against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras, next day signed memorandum of understanding on phases toward its establishment. Opposition National Party 10 Dec demanded that UN fully fund commission amid fears that govt funding could compromise commission’s independence.

Rising extortion rates prompted govt to declare national emergency; discussions over election of Supreme Court members inflamed political frictions.

Govt declared national emergency amid mounting levels of extortion. Supreme Court president 4 Nov said establishment of UN-backed International Commission against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras will not be enough to curb increasing rates of violent crime if national institutions are not strengthened. Head of Council for Private Enterprise 14 Nov said extortion was “getting out of hand” and called on authorities to intervene. Head of Police Gustavo Sánchez 24 Nov released plan to tackle extortion and President Castro same day declared national security emergency, announcing measures such as border militarisation and bank controls to “eradicate extortion”. Sánchez 25 Nov said operations will initially focus on 120 neighbourhoods in capital Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, two most populous and violent cities.

Efforts to elect new Supreme Court aggravated political tensions. Amid brewing political crisis, which emerged mid-Oct after ruling party Libre announced alliance with Honduras’ Saviour Party (PSH) had broken down, political debate largely centred on election of new Supreme Court members. Nominating committee tasked with selecting candidates 1 Nov published list of 185 candidates for 2023-2030 term, trimmed down to 105 on 18 Nov. Committee has until mid-Jan to forward list of 45 candidates to National Congress, which in turn elects 15 members. Former President and Libre coordinator Manuel Zelaya 11 Nov acknowledged that selection of Court justices is guided by political interests and announced negotiations with opposition National Party on distribution of Supreme Court seats between each party; VP and head of PSH Salvador Nasralla same day insisted on PHS participation in any negotiations. Leader of National Party, Tomás Zambrano, 14 Nov said Libre had not shown willingness to negotiate in good faith.

Alliance between ruling Libre party and Honduras’ Saviour Party reportedly fell apart, insecurity persisted, and efforts to establish international anti-corruption body proceeded at slow pace.

Ruling alliance reportedly broke down. Political frictions surfaced after former President Manuel Zelaya Rosales, coordinator of ruling Libre party, 14 Oct announced alliance between Libre and Honduras’ Saviour Party (PSH), which helped Xiomara Castro win 2021 presidential election, had “broken down”. Although alliance had shown fractures since Oct 2021 formation, VP and head of PSH Salvador Nasralla had recently been criticising govt more frequently and publicly for bypassing him in executive decisions, leading to 14 Oct announcement. Gilberto Ríos, leader of Libre, 15 Oct blamed U.S. embassy in Honduras for collapse, claiming it was working with Nasralla to break alliance. Much-weakened coalition in Congress could threaten govt’s ability to push through legislation.

High levels of violence persisted, notably targeting journalists and women. Gunmen 10 Oct shot dead journalist Edwin Josué Andino and his father in capital Tegucigalpa, marking fifth journalist killed in 2022; police next day said crime was planned by organised criminal structures. Reports 22 Oct emerged that 18th Street gang members had forced at least 20 families in Villa Nueva neighbourhood of Tegucigalpa to flee after receiving dead threats. Meanwhile, local feminist organisation “Visitación Padilla” Women’s Movement for Peace 24 Oct called on govt to declare national emergency after reports emerged that 13 women had been killed across country previous week.

Negotiations to establish anti-corruption body continued at slow pace. MPs from Libre, National and PSH parties 19 Oct formed multiparty front in support of establishing UN-backed International Commission against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (CICIH), for which negotiations have been proceeding at slow pace. Chancellor Enrique Reina 26 Oct said govt had received new memorandum draft from UN.

Amid govt’s efforts to tackle crime and strengthen rule of law, deadly attacks continued, notably targeting lawyers.

Criminal violence continued, notably targeting lawyers. Unknown assailants 1 Sept shot dead lawyer Kelvin Moncada in Danlí municipality, El Paraíso department (east); unidentified gunmen 8 Sept shot dead lawyer Santos Abel Martínez Barahona in capital Tegucigalpa. Over 200 lawyers have been murdered in Honduras since 2004; UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada al-Nashif 12 Sept urged strengthening of national protection system for human rights defenders in country.

Govt took steps to tackle gender-based violence and enforced disappearances. Director of National Statistics Institute (INE) and representative of country’s UN Development Programme (UNDP) 7 Sept announced that in Oct-Nov this year, Honduras would conduct specialised survey on violence against women and girls with UNDP support, in effort to tackle gender-based violence. National Police and International Committee of the Red Cross 14 Sept signed agreement to strengthen mechanisms in place for search of disappeared persons.

Efforts to strengthen rule of law and combat corruption continued. Congress 14 Sept ratified installation of Nominating Committee, which will be made up of representatives from different social sectors and tasked with proposing candidates for Supreme Court in 2023. Meanwhile, during speech at UN General Assembly, President Castro 20 Sept confirmed establishment of international commission to combat corruption with support of UN Sec-Gen António Guterres.

Amid ongoing efforts to detain and prosecute criminal leaders, authorities eradicated large number of coca bushes, and negotiations to establish UN-backed anti-corruption commission continued at slow pace. Judicial proceedings continued in U.S. against Honduran nationals extradited on drug-trafficking charges. Herlinda Bobadilla, head of Montes Bobadilla trafficking clan, 2 Aug pleaded not guilty to drug-trafficking charges at first court hearing in Virginia; trial expected to begin in Feb 2023. Former National Police Head Juan Carlos “El Tigre” Bonilla 10 Aug appeared before judge for first time, 19 Aug pleaded not guilty to drug-trafficking charges. Meanwhile, authorities 12 Aug extradited suspected MS-13 leader Tokiro Rodas Ramírez to U.S. on organised crime charges, 16 Aug arrested María Mendoza, alias “Marbella”, wanted for extradition by U.S. on human-trafficking charges, in La Esperanza municipality, Intibucá department (west). Authorities continued forced eradication of coca crops to curb activities of criminal groups, who largely control coca production. In Colón department (north east), authorities 1 Aug reported seizure of over 1.6mn coca bushes, largest seizure of its kind in country. In San Pedro Sula city, Cortés department (north west), unknown assailants 13 Aug killed five people, bringing number of massacres this year to 33. Meanwhile, efforts to establish anti-corruption commission continued at slow pace. Notably, govt 22 Aug submitted proposals and comments on memorandum draft that UN had proposed in July, suggesting limits to commission’s ability to serve as joint plaintiff and requesting to choose commissioner. On diplomatic front, Head of Congress Luis Redondo 11 Aug signed technical cooperation agreement with Legislative Assembly of El Salvador during visit to neighbouring country. Honduras next day abstained from Organization of American States (OAS) extraordinary session vote to condemn Nicaraguan President Ortega’s crackdown on dissent; OAS approved resolution.

Congress passed controversial law setting out procedures for Supreme Court judge selection in 2023; number of violent incidents occurred throughout month. Despite appeal from U.S. govt for President Castro to guarantee judicial independence, National Congress 19 July approved controversial law establishing criteria and procedures for selecting new Supreme Court judges in 2023. Draft bill prohibited political party members or family members of candidates to be on nominating committee, but law that passed removed those restrictions. Deputies from opposition National Party and Honduras’ Saviour Party (PSH) voted against bill, saying it enabled politicisation of court. PSH president same day said he would not enter into another electoral alliance with ruling Libre Party, accusing them of going back on their word. Spate of violent incidents occurred during month. In Ilama municipality, Santa Bárbara department (north), authorities 4 July said inmates from 18th Street gang killed six other prisoners in maximum security prison El Pozo. Meanwhile, heavily armed men 14 July intercepted and killed one of former President Porfirio Lobo’s sons and three others in capital Tegucigalpa; police chief 16 July announced six people arrested, all reportedly MS-13 gang members. Head of military police 18 July said his units would patrol together with national police, following orders from Castro. U.S. State Dept 20 July added 15 Honduran businessmen and current and former officials to list of corrupt actors in Central America, known as Engel list, including vice president of Congress. Govt 20 July rejected “politically motivated” list and accused U.S. of “interfering in domestic affairs”. 

Govt continued to make progress on tackling corruption and first signs of disagreement with U.S. emerged. President Castro’s govt continued to advance fight against corruption. Notably, court 10 June sentenced Marco Bográn, former executive of govt agency responsible for procuring emergency medical supplies, to ten years in prison for overpricing purchase of more than 470,000 masks and seven mobile hospitals during COVID-19 pandemic. Authorities 10 June began process of seizing assets belonging to extradited former head of National Police Juan Carlos Bonilla. Meanwhile, court 20 June sentenced former head of hydroelectric dam company Desarrollos Energéticos (DESA) to 22 years in prison for role in assassination of environmentalist Berta Cáceres. Month brought first signs of disagreement with U.S.. FM Eduardo Enrique Reina 6-10 June attended Americas Summit hosted by U.S. in Los Angeles; Castro did not attend due to U.S. administration’s exclusion of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua. At summit, U.S. confirmed nearly $3.2 bn of new investments in northern Central America to stem migration. UN Sec Gen 9 June met Reina, reiterated support for immediate establishment of International Commission against Impunity in Honduras (CICIH); Reina said commission could be established before end of year. EU Ambassador 13 June said EU would not rule out supporting commission as long as it is independent.