Latest El Salvador News

El Salvador president proposes dramatic reduction in number of municipalities to reduce tax burden

Jun. 02, 2023 01:03 AM EDT

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — El Salvador President Nayib Bukele said Thursday he wants to cut the number of municipalities in the country from 262 to 44 to reduce the tax burden. The proposal would require the approval of the country’s Legislative Assembly, in which...

Report: At least 153 people arrested under special powers have died in Salvadoran prisons

May. 29, 2023 22:53 PM EDT

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — At least 153 people jailed since El Salvador instituted emergency powers in March 2022 to confront the country’s powerful street gangs have died in state custody, according to a report released Monday by the human rights group Cristosal. None of...

Ex-El Salvador President Mauricio Funes sentenced to 14 years for negotiating with gangs

May. 29, 2023 21:34 PM EDT

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — A judge sentenced former El Salvador President Mauricio Funes to 14 years in prison Monday for negotiating with gangs during his administration. Funes’ trial began in April with the former leader living in Nicaragua. El Salvador changed its laws...

Police in El Salvador arrest soccer club officials after deadly stampede

May. 25, 2023 11:46 AM EDT

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — Police in El Salvador have arrested the president of soccer club Alianza, as well as other club officials and stadium personnel, in connection with a stampede that left 12 fans dead last weekend. The Attorney General’s Office said Thursday that...

El Salvador soccer club whose supporters set off deadly stampede will play without fans for a year

May. 23, 2023 15:48 PM EDT

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — The El Salvador soccer club whose fans pushed down an entrance gate setting off a stampede that left 12 people dead last weekend will play without supporters in its stadium for a year, the country's soccer federation said. Club Alianza also will...

Angry fans crash through gate at El Salvador soccer match in stampede that kills 12, injures dozens

May. 21, 2023 20:18 PM EDT

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — Fans angry at being blocked from entering a Salvadoran soccer league match despite having tickets knocked down a small access gate to the stadium, creating a crush that killed 12 people and injured dozens, officials and witnesses said Sunday. Diego...

At least 9 dead in stampede at soccer stadium in El Salvador

May. 21, 2023 00:36 AM EDT

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — At least nine people were killed and dozens more injured when stampeding soccer fans pushed through one of the access gates at a quarterfinal match in the Salvadoran league Saturday. The National Civil Police said in a preliminary report via Twitter...

In El Salvador, transgender community struggles for rights and survival

May. 19, 2023 08:38 AM EDT

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — Fabricio Chicas knows exactly what will happen. As soon as he hands in his ID, the employee on the other side of the counter will look at him with suspicion, asking why he carries a document that identifies him as female. Whether it is a bank, a...

In El Salvador, transgender community struggles for rights and survival

May. 19, 2023 08:13 AM EDT

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — Fabricio Chicas knows exactly what will happen. As soon as he hands in his ID, the employee on the other side of the counter will look at him with suspicion, asking why he carries a document that identifies him as female. Whether at a bank, a...

El Salvador sends troops to surround town after police officer killed

May. 17, 2023 13:15 PM EDT

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — More than 5,000 soldiers and 500 police encircled a small town in northern El Salvador after President Nayib Bukele said Wednesday gang members had killed a member of the national police there. Bukele said via Twitter that the deployment in Nueva...