Authorities expanded tax-free zones despite opposition and launched major anti-gang operation. Congress 13 Aug approved law that allows tax-free Zones for Employment and Economic Development (ZEDEs) to sign agreements with municipalities, 126 of whom have rejected move so far. Combined police and military force 13 Aug launched operation against criminal gangs in at least 12 cities; public ministry same day claimed operation was successful, resulting in 138 people detained, 35 guns and $160,000 seized. Authorities 27 Aug arrested Jerry Hynds, mayor of Caribbean island Roatán, and three other men on drug trafficking charges. Over 75 NGOs 18 Aug called on Supreme Court to order release of eight environmental activists who have been detained for two years; request comes after Public Ministry in June requested extension of their provisional detention, which was granted 26 Aug for another six months. National Electoral Council 4 Aug approved budget of HNL1,000mn ($42mn) for Nov general elections, next day announced approval of digital results transmission system aimed at considerably speeding up counting of votes.

Uncertainty persisted over electoral process, opposition to tax-free economic zones continued, and U.S. sanctioned officials for alleged corruption. National Electoral Council 13 July warned general elections scheduled for Nov are at risk since Congress has not yet approved funds to implement provisions foreseen in May electoral reforms. Opposition to govt’s plan to install more tax-free Zones for Employment and Economic Development (ZEDEs) continued to mount. Several social and peasant organisations 14 July staged rallies in capital Tegucigalpa and La Ceiba city (north) to demand that all municipalities be declared free of ZEDEs, arguing that they do not produce employment and could lead to displacement of vulnerable populations. National Anti-Corruption Council 19 July presented legislative proposal to repeal current ZEDEs law. Unidentified gunmen 6 July killed peasant and human rights defender Juan Manuel Moncada in Colón department (north); UN human rights office in Honduras 8 July called for prompt and impartial investigation and urged govt to take “necessary measures” to protect peasant leaders and rights defenders. Tegucigalpa High Court 5 July found former head of construction firm DESA, David Castillo, guilty of masterminding killing of environmental activist Berta Cáceres in 2016; Cáceres had led opposition to DESA’s dam project. U.S. State Dept 1 July imposed visa restrictions on 21 senior Honduran politicians, including 13 lawmakers, over accusations of corruption, obstructing justice, or undermining democracy; 20 July announced visa restrictions on former President Pepe Lobo and his immediate relatives for alleged corruption.

Deadly brawl opposed members of two rival gangs in country’s most notorious prison. Brawl between members of 18th Street gang and rival MS-13 gang 17 June broke out at La Tolva high-security prison east of capital Tegucigalpa, leaving at least five inmates killed and 39 people injured, including prison guards; prisons have been under military control since late 2019. Unidentified gunmen 7 June killed member of Garifuna indigenous community in Comayagua city (centre), bringing to six number of Garifuna people killed in 2021. Govt continued to face accusations of mismanagement of COVID-19 pandemic. National Anticorruption Council (CNA) 14 June said only two of seven mobile hospitals purchased in 2020 to treat COVID-19 patients have become operational, denounced “paved roads for the corrupt”; CNA has submitted to prosecutors 14 reports on irregularities in mobile hospitals’ purchase since 2020. Police 18 June fired tear gas to disperse peaceful protesters demanding reconstruction of levees washed away by hurricanes in 2020 in San Pedro Sula city’s neighbourhood Chamelecón (north). Some 32 civil society groups 16 June formed national movement against tax-free Special Zones of Economic Development (ZEDEs), arguing they do not produce employment and could lead to displacement of vulnerable populations; 22 June organised small protest against ZEDEs in Tegucigalpa. U.S. development agency Administrator Samantha Power 13 June visited Honduras, announced nearly $24mn in aid to address root causes of migration.

Despite approval of new electoral law, uncertainty continued to loom over electoral process in lead-up to Nov polls. National Congress 25 May approved new electoral law. Opposition leader and former presidential candidate Salvador Nasralla same day decried law as “farce” that consolidates three-party system and excludes others, said his party will boycott Nov elections if not granted representatives at polling stations. National Anticorruption Council 26 May also criticised law for allowing individuals facing corruption investigations to run. U.S. court 13 May requested extradition of former police chief, Juan Carlos “El Tigre” Bonilla, on drug-trafficking charges. U.S. Congresswoman 18 May disclosed names of five Honduran lawmakers accused by U.S. State Dept of embezzlement or narco-trafficking. Govt continued to face criticism over management of COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, National Anticorruption Council 6 May urged President Hernández’s govt to immediately address deficiencies and shortcomings of triage centres in seven departments.

Govt continued to face legitimacy crisis ahead of Nov general elections amid drug trafficking and corruption allegations against senior officials. After U.S. court late March sentenced President Hernández’s brother to life imprisonment on drug trafficking charges, 37 civil society groups 5 April urged Hernández to step down; also called on heads of Congress, Supreme Court, Attorney General’s Office and armed forces to resign for supporting “corrupt and criminal family” in power. Authorities 8 April arrested two former govt officials on corruption charges related to $47mn purchase of seven mobile hospitals amid COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, Luis Zelaya, losing candidate for Liberal Party in 14 March primary elections, 13 April filed complaint to Public Prosecutor’s Office, claiming widespread electoral fraud, demanding election results be annulled and National Electoral Council members  dismissed. Govt 7 April signed agreement with Honduran Private Enterprise Council allowing organisation to negotiate purchase and import of COVID-19 vaccines with pharmaceutical companies; doctors’ associations and other civil society groups decried move as admission of govt’s incapacity to provide vaccines. Unidentified gunmen 6 April killed female lawyer in Comayaguela city. Six members of U.S. House of Representatives 21 April introduced bill to request sanctions against Hernández and suspension of military cooperation with Honduras, citing corruption and human rights violations.

As president’s brother sentenced for drug trafficking in U.S., top level officials continued to face accusations of supporting long-established drug trafficking network. U.S. court 30 March sentenced president’s brother, Juan Antonio “Tony” Hernández, to life imprisonment for drug trafficking and ordered over $138mn in his assets to be confiscated. U.S. court 22 March also found Honduran national Geovanny Fuentes Ramírez guilty of drug trafficking. During Fuentes’ trial, Los Cachiros drug cartel’s former head Devis Leonel Rivera Maradiaga 11 March said he had bribed President Hernández when he was head of Congress in 2012 in exchange for protection; also said Los Cachiros bribed current VP Ricardo Álvarez and former President Zelaya in 2012 and 2006 respectively; both immediately denied accusations. U.S. Prosecutor 19 March said Hernández accepted bribes from Fuentes as recently as 2019. Ahead of trial, Hernández 8 March said anti-drug cooperation between Honduras and U.S. would be jeopardised should U.S. authorities believe “false testimonies” and once again denied accusations of partnering with traffickers. Ahead of Nov general elections, primary elections 14 March took place for all political parties despite lack of electoral law, and absence of quick-vote count or results transmission mechanism; roughly 1mn voters (out of 5mn) reportedly unable to cast vote due to incongruencies between old and new voter registries. As of 26 March, preliminary results showed capital Tegucigalpa mayor, Nasry Afura (under investigation for alleged misuse of public funds), in lead position to gain ruling National Party’s nomination; former Minister Yani Rosenthal (who served three years in U.S. prison for laundering drug money) in lead position for opposition Liberal Party; and wife of former President Zelaya, Xiomara Castro, in lead position for opposition Libre Party. Luis Zelaya, losing candidate for Liberal Party, rejected preliminary results, citing “evident signs of fraud”, and 24 March formed electoral coalition with two Libre Party losing candidates and former presidential candidate Salvador Nasralla. As of 25 March, electoral authorities had received 147 challenges to electoral results. Unidentified assailant 22 March shot and killed indigenous and environmental activist Carlos Cerros near San Antonio city in north west.

Death of female student in police custody sparked protests, while tensions mounted over drug trafficking accusations against President Hernández. Nursing student Keyla Martínez overnight 6-7 Feb died in police custody hours after police arrested her in Intibucá department’s capital La Esperanza (west) for allegedly breaching COVID-19 curfew; police initially said Martínez had committed suicide but Attorney General’s Office 9 Feb said forensic tests found “strong indications” of homicide. Protests against police brutality and gender-based violence, and calling for justice, 8-10 Feb erupted in several cities; in capital Tegucigalpa, police reportedly detained five protesters, and in La Esperanza, protesters set police station’s main gate on fire and clashed with police. In joint statement, EU delegation and UN Office in Honduras 11 Feb called for immediate investigation into Martínez’s death. Meanwhile, U.S. prosecutors 5 Feb confirmed Hernández under U.S. investigation for allegedly using Honduran security forces to protect drug traffickers as part of plan “to use drug trafficking to help assert power”; Hernández 8 Feb denied accusations. Eight U.S. Congress members 23 Feb introduced bill to sanction Hernández and cut military aid to Honduras in light of accusations. Several civil society, private sector and lawyers associations, as well as opposition representatives, next day asked Hernández to resign and called for protests 26 Feb; police that day fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters in capital Tegucigalpa. Ahead of primary elections set for 14 March and general elections in Nov, Congress by month’s end had not yet approved new electoral law setting rules and guidelines for electoral process. Appeals Court 17 Feb authorised Attorney General’s Office to press embezzlement of public funds and money laundering charges against Tegucigalpa mayor and presidential precandidate Nasry ‘Tito’ Asfura.

Fresh allegations of President Hernández’s involvement in drug trafficking emerged, and thousands departed for U.S. U.S. prosecutors 8 Jan accused Hernández of aiding prominent drug trafficker to deliver tons of cocaine to U.S. in 2013 in exchange for hefty bribes and access to his laboratory; prosecutors also accused former army chief, René Orlando Ponce, of providing logistical support to same trafficker. Govt and Ponce immediately rejected U.S. accusations, claiming they are part of revenge campaign by captured drug traffickers. Three opposition deputies 14 Jan presented formal impeachment request against Hernández, but Congress 25 Jan repealed motion. Meanwhile, gang violence continued amid competition for control of drug markets. Authorities late Dec to mid-Jan found at least 15 bodies in plastic bags in several cities across country including Tegucigalpa, Tela, San Pedro Sula, Choloma and Santa Bárbara. Ahead of general elections set for Nov, Congress 14 Jan failed to pass new electoral law; stumbling blocks include party presence in polling stations and reimbursement of party campaigning expenses. Ruling National Party 25 Jan said law will be discussed after primaries scheduled for March. In joint statement, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras govts 11 Jan said they will coordinate efforts to curb irregular migration. Caravan of 6,000-9,000 U.S.-bound Hondurans, split into two groups, 14-15 Jan departed from San Pedro Sula city in Cortés department (north west). Thousands 15-16 Jan pushed past Honduran and Guatemalan security forces and crossed into Guatemala. Guatemalan army 17 Jan cracked down on caravan in Chiquimula department, using sticks and tear gas and reportedly injuring at least four; Honduran govt same day exhorted Guatemalan govt to investigate incident. Guatemalan authorities 25 Jan said they had returned over 4,800 Hondurans to their country of origin. 

Amid challenges to electoral preparations ahead of votes this year, deadly attacks on community leaders persisted. Lawmakers failed to approve new electoral law in its entirety three months away from primary elections set for March 2021, and ahead of general elections scheduled for Nov 2021. National Congress VP Antonio Rivera 4 Dec said elections are likely to be held under current electoral law. National Electoral Council 7 Dec said it had found inconsistencies in 500,000 out of 4.2mn fingerprints submitted for national voter registry, heralding prospect of further disputes over electoral process and legitimacy of results. Unidentified assailants 19 Dec killed journalist Pedro Arcángel Canelas in Dulce del Culmí municipality, Olancho department (east); 26 Dec killed community leader and candidate in upcoming legislative elections Felix Vasquéz in Santiago Puringla municipality, La Paz department (south west); next day killed community leader José Adán Medina in Morazán municipality, Yoro department (north). After Eta and Iota hurricanes hit country last month, Honduran disaster agency 7 Dec estimated around 93,000 still in temporary shelters; UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs next day issued alert about health-care provision after hurricanes destroyed dozens of health centres and hospitals. Anti-riot police in Santa Fe municipality in Ocotepeque department (west) 10 Dec tried to stymie caravan of 500 migrants en route to Guatemala from San Pedro Sula city in Cortés department (north west) over alleged failure to show IDs and negative COVID-19 tests; Guatemalan authorities next day reportedly arrested 67 migrants who had managed to continue journey and cross into country. U.S. 7 Dec extended Temporary Protected Status for Honduran nationals, which allows them to live and work in U.S., until Oct 2021. U.S. Congress 22 Dec passed bill requiring upcoming U.S. President Biden to submit to Congress list of corrupt officials in Northern Triangle, and curtailing military funding for Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.

Response to hurricanes consumed govt and political tensions persisted ahead of 2021 general elections. Hurricanes Eta and Iota made landfall 4 and 16 Nov respectively, causing widespread destruction. Govt’s disaster agency 16 and 22 Nov reported 92 dead and more than 4mn affected in total. Local NGO FOSDEH 19 Nov said economic losses amount to $10bn. Govt 9 Nov created secretariat of transparency, tasked with preventing mismanagement of disaster relief funding; civil society groups and National Anticorruption Council 10 Nov called move unconstitutional and argued it undermines existing anti-corruption institutions. Prosecutor’s office 10 Nov opened investigation into alleged overvaluation of aid kits for hurricane victims. Political violence and tensions continued. Ahead of general elections planned for 2021, unidentified gunmen 6 Nov killed mayoral candidate affiliated with ruling National Party, Terry Geston Martínez, in Puerto Lempira, Gracias a Dios department (east). Political disagreements continued to slow down approval of new electoral law, with 200 of 333 articles approved by Congress as of 25 Nov; second presidential term and creation of second round in presidential election among main sticking points. Govt 23-27 Nov arrested 75 members of MS-13 and 18th Street gangs and five police officers across country in U.S.-backed anti-organised crime operations.