Honduras: News & Updates

In the weeks leading up to the 17th anniversary of the 2009 coup in Honduras, dozens of social movements and grassroots organizations are coordinating press conferences, collecting signatures, blocking roads, and demonstrating in front of the Supreme Court. All of these actions aim to denounce a series of laws that promote and prioritize large-scale private investment in the agribusiness, tourism, and energy sectors, which they claim are returning Honduras to the narco-dictatorship that followed the coup (2009-2022). The resistance of these movements is directly linked to the intensification of US intervention in Honduras.

This article by Honduras Now, attempting to make sense of the current political shifts in Honduras,  reviews the political developments from the military coup in 2009 to the imminent developments resembling post coup narco dictatorship, restoring right wing policies and thus becoming yet another functionair fostering trump administrations agenda in central america.   

Though the original teachings of protecting the environment originate in the Bible, documents such as Laudato Si and Fratelli Tutti continue to promote ecological justice today. Forces such as capitalism are disrupting peace and driving exploitation of natural resources. Conflicts over natural resources must be solved with moral, cultural, and pastoral responses in collaboration with legal and economic frameworks. Many prominent members of the Catholic Church, such as Juan Antonio López, have worked vigorously to protect the people and the environment from capitalistic systems that are destroying the peace and planet. Holistic work like that of Juan Antonio López makes people targets to those who hold immense power and wealth. Tragically, Juan Antonio López was murdered in Honduras on September 14, 2024, for his activism. His death proves that peace and justice must work hand in hand for the common good.

BBC reviews their interviews with the recently (under scandalous contions) pardoned, former Honduran President JOH Juan Orlando Hernandez. 

Honduran authorities arrested former mayor Adán Fúnez and two others for allegedly masterminding the 2024 assassination of environmental activist Juan López, a prominent opponent of a controversial mining project. The case highlights ongoing violence against environmental defenders in Honduras, where activism remains highly dangerous amid corruption, impunity, and conflicts over natural resources.

While the electoral system of Honduras has improved from the infastructure prior to 2021, there are still many issues faced today. The November 30th elections were plagued with technical difficulties that led to data irregularites and speculations of fraud. The influence of US Republican lawmakers and politicians was also evident as many of them posted allegations of fraud of LIBRE and anti-democratic plans of Castro and Moncada: none of these allegations were supported with evidence. Surrounding the election, a mission sent by the Center for Economic and Policy Research conducted research in which they did not find evidence supporting election fraud. In the end, Nasry Afsura of the National party, who is said will bring back corruption and violence within the administration, was elected.

A leaked audio recording points to former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, Javier Milei, and Donald Trump as attempting to create a platform to spread fake news about the administrations of Claudia Sheinbaum, Lula, and Gustavo Petro

Honduras’s November 30 general elections took place in a highly polarized environment marked by institutional weaknesses, technical failures, foreign interference, and low public trust. Although reforms since 2021 improved the electoral framework, partisan divisions caused gridlock and delays in key decisions.

Technical problems—especially with the results transmission system—produced irregular data and inconsistencies, fueling fraud claims and a contentious, incomplete recount process. At the same time, public interventions by US political figures, including Donald Trump, added external pressure that may have influenced voters.

A CEPR observation mission found no evidence of fraud in the presidential vote but could not fully assess the impact of data irregularities due to limited access. Nasry Asfura was declared the winner by a narrow margin before all disputed ballots were reviewed, returning the National Party to power after a controversial post-2009 period marked by corruption and human rights abuses.

Civil society has raised concerns about a possible resurgence of authoritarian practices, especially amid recent contested removals of electoral officials by Congress.

To expand its gold mining operations in Copán Department, MINOSA (a Honduran subsidiary of US-based Aura Minerals) began deforestation of the Cerro Los Hornillos mountain, a site of sacred and historical significance to the local Maya Chortí Indigenous community, in July 2025. Community members questioned the authority under which the company was operating and denounced MINOSA for failing to consult affected peoples prior to initiating work in the area. They expressed concern that the destruction of Cerro Los Hornillos could affect the geological integrity of the mountain area and vital waterways.   So to protect the well-being of the environmental and the health of the community, in September 2025  residents installed a peaceful encampment at the foot of the mountain to block any expansion of gold mining into the Cerro Los Hornillos.

The corporation has the office of the public prosecutor and other state law enforcement on its side. On February 12, to help MINOSA expand its mining operations (even though it did not have express permission from neither the Secretariat of Natural Resources and Environment nor the Honduras Institute for Geology and Mining), the Honduran military arrived at Cerro Los Hornillos to assist MINOSA in its deforestation by holding back the encampment of environmental defenders.  On February 24, six encampment defenders had to appear at a court arraignment on charges of usurpation (illegal trespass/occupation). On May 5, they would appear in court again as a judge determines whether the public prosecutor has enough evidence to move the case forward.

Despite the severe social and environmental risks that this project poses, MINOSA is moving towards exploitation without any sign of institutional oversight.