Portal:Central America

Guatemala, officially the Republic of Guatemala, is a country in northern Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north and west, Belize to the northeast (in the adjacency zone), Honduras to the east, and El Salvador to the southeast. It is bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the south and the Gulf of Honduras to the northeast.

The territory of modern Guatemala hosted the core of the Maya civilization, which extended across Mesoamerica; in the 16th century, most of this was conquered by the Spanish and claimed as part of the viceroyalty of New Spain. Guatemala attained independence from Spain and Mexico in 1821. From 1823 to 1841, it was part of the Federal Republic of Central America. For the latter half of the 19th century, Guatemala suffered instability and civil strife. From the early 20th century, it was ruled by a series of dictators backed by the United States. In 1944, authoritarian leader Jorge Ubico was overthrown by a pro-democratic military coup, initiating a decade-long revolution that led to social and economic reforms. In 1954, a U.S.-backed military coup ended the revolution and installed a dictatorship. From 1960 to 1996, Guatemala endured a bloody civil war fought between the U.S.-backed government and leftist rebels, including genocidal massacres of the Maya population perpetrated by the Guatemalan military. The United Nations negotiated a peace accord, resulting in economic growth and successive democratic elections. (Full article...)

• ... that Miles Rock served as chief of the commission that determined the disputed Guatemala–Mexico border?
• ... that the Terrorism Confinement Center in El Salvador has a capacity of 40,000 inmates?
• ... that in August 2021 Sheika Scott became the youngest player to score in the Costa Rican Women's Premier Division, at just 14 years old?
• ... that Swedish naval officer Axel Lagerbielke was imprisoned in Lima for over a year, held in Callao and eventually escaped from Panama on an English packet boat to Jamaica?
• ... that the 1854 San Salvador earthquake damaged San Salvador so severely that the government of El Salvador relocated to Cojutepeque for four years?
• ... that Marcos G. McGrath, the Catholic archbishop of Panama, was allowed to enter Manuel Noriega's "witch house" and other residences, and found evidence of torture, devil worship, and voodoo?
• ... that Alfonso Quiñónez Molina suddenly becoming President of El Salvador before the 1919 election was described as a "mixed blessing"?
• ... that Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia was deported to El Salvador in March 2025 due to an "administrative error" by the U.S. government?

For editor resources and to collaborate with other editors on improving Wikipedia's Central America-related articles, see WikiProject Central America.

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19 March 2026 – South Africa's genocide case against Israel

Germany withdraws from defending Israel in South Africa's International Court of Justice genocide case against Israel, citing their need to defend themselves in a separate case launched against them by Nicaragua. (Haaretz)

17 March 2026 –

The Legislative Assembly of El Salvador votes 59–1 to approve a constitutional amendment to permit courts to issue sentences of life imprisonment to individuals convicted of murder, rape, or terrorism where the limit was previously 60 years. (Reuters)

13 March 2026 – El Salvador–United States relations, Nuclear power in El Salvador

El Salvador and the United States sign Agreement 123 under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to build a nuclear power plant in El Salvador that is planned to be operational by 2030. (El Mundo in Spanish)

28 February 2026 – Human rights in Cuba

Cuban authorities arrest ten Panamanian nationals in Havana, accusing them of creating anti-government signs in exchange for being paid US$1,000–1,500 and charging them under laws that prohibit propaganda against the constitution, offenses that carry prison terms of three to eight years. (AFP via Jamaica Observer) (Reuters)

23 February 2026 –

Panama's canal authority assumes control of the Balboa and Cristóbal ports on the Panama Canal after the Supreme Court annulled the concessions held by Hong Kong–based CK Hutchison, with an 18-month transition period and a new international tender process planned. (AFP via France 24)

13 February 2026 – 2027 Salvadoran legislative election

Milagro Navas, the mayor of La Libertad Este and El Salvador's only opposition-aligned mayor, announces that she will run for re-election in 2027. (El Mundo)

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