Latest Nayib Bukele News

El Salvador's leader, criticized internationally for gang crackdown, tells UN it was the right thing

Sep. 19, 2023 20:29 PM EDT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — El Salvador President Nayib Bukele trumpeted the success of his gang crackdown during his speech at the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, crediting his administration’s will against international criticism over human rights violations. Bukele said that if El...

Member of Panama's national soccer team shot and killed in Colon; 2nd in 6 years

Sep. 04, 2023 19:09 PM EDT

COLON, Panama (AP) — A member of Panama’s national soccer team was hanging out with friends in front of the building where his mother lives, when gunmen in a taxi opened fire, killing Gilberto Hernández and wounding seven others in the country’s violent port city of Colon, police and...

Progressive Arévalo is 'virtual winner' of Guatemala election after corruption angered voters

Aug. 21, 2023 00:27 AM EDT

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Outsider Bernardo Arévalo appeared to be the “virtual winner” of Sunday's election to be Guatemala’s next president after voters angry at widespread corruption and leaders’ failure to tackle it made a decisive choice for change. A potential victory by...

As free press withers in El Salvador, pro-government social media influencers grow in power

Aug. 13, 2023 00:09 AM EDT

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — Douglas Guzmán's TikTok feed was dotted with workout routines and videos showcasing his favorite parts of his country. That changed about a year ago, as rights groups, civil society and even some officials criticized El Salvador's President Nayib...

El Salvador sends 8,000 troops and police officers to comb rural province in massive anti-gang raid

Aug. 01, 2023 18:47 PM EDT

SAN SALVADOR (AP) — El Salvador sent about 8,000 soldiers and police officers to comb the rural province of Cabañas for street gang members Tuesday, in one of the most massive raids since President Nayib Bukele declared a crackdown on the gangs in March 2022. About 1,000 police...

El Salvador plans mass trials for those imprisoned in gang crackdown

Jul. 26, 2023 21:01 PM EDT

SAN SALVADOR (AP) — New rules passed by El Salvador’s congress Wednesday will allow courts to try accused gang members in mass trials, in an effort to expedite tens of thousands of cases for those detained under the country’s crackdown on street gangs. The changes to the...

State Department sanctions 2 former Salvadoran leaders, dozens of officials in Central America

Jul. 19, 2023 19:57 PM EDT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The State Department announced Wednesday it was imposing sanctions on two former Salvadoran presidents and dozens of other officials and judges in Central America. The report said that those sanctioned “have knowingly engaged in actions that undermine...

Honduras wants to build West's only island prison colony and lock gangsters inside

Jul. 19, 2023 00:08 AM EDT

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — Honduras plans to build the only island prison colony in the Western Hemisphere and send its most-feared gangsters there, tearing a page from neighboring El Salvador's unforgiving approach to murder, robbery, rape and extortion. Honduras's progressive...

A wave of political turbulence is rolling through Guatemala and other Central American countries

Jul. 14, 2023 17:45 PM EDT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Central America is experiencing a wave of unrest that is remarkable even for a region whose history is riddled with turbulence. The most recent example is political upheaval in Guatemala as the country heads for a runoff presidential election in August. A look...

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele nominated for reelection despite constitutional questions

Jul. 10, 2023 02:29 AM EDT

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — President Nayib Bukele was officially nominated by his New Ideas party Sunday to run for reelection next year, brushing aside objections from legal experts and opposition figures who say El Salvador’s constitution prohibits his candidacy. New...