The International Commission against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (CICIH) will not form a part of Xiomara Castro’s achievements. Even though it was declared as a fundamental aspect of her administration’s agenda, the plan was not realized and is excluded from the ongoing presidential term, concluding in January 2026.
By implicitly abandoning the initiative, the administration ends a phase that had stirred considerable anticipation among citizens concerning the battle against corruption. The path to setting up the CICIH was characterized by repeated postponements, ineffective prolongations, and halted discussions with the United Nations.
The recognized acknowledgment of shortcomings, articulated by ex-Foreign Minister Enrique Reina, highlights a mix of reasons that, in his view, include both legislative hurdles and global influences. Nevertheless, for several social groups, this rationale falls short.
The shattered pledge that diminished confidence
Organizations connected to civil society and the global community concur that the primary responsibility rests with the current administration. According to experts and observers of the situation, the issue was not due to a shortage of external conditions but rather a lack of political will on behalf of the executive branch to honor its obligations.
From this viewpoint, not establishing the CICIH is not simply a mishap or an unavoidable result, but rather a choice.
These sentiments were shared by Juan Jiménez Mayor, the former MACCIH spokesperson, who openly criticized the administration for failing to uphold a commitment that had raised significant hopes. Gabriela Castellanos, the head of the National Anti-Corruption Council (CNA), joined in the criticism, strongly accusing the governing party of leveraging the CICIH as a campaign gimmick with no genuine plan to implement it.
An anti-corruption agenda without institutional support
The departure of the CICIH from the national landscape carries repercussions extending beyond mere administrative issues. The absence of concrete advancements has intensified the view that the battle against corruption is devoid of effective tools and strong governmental dedication. The executive’s trustworthiness on this matter is at stake while calls for openness and responsibility persist as critical.
Given an institutional outlook that no longer includes establishing the international mechanism, Honduras is losing a meaningful chance to address impunity in a systematic way. The limited time left in the current administration makes it improbable that any substantial effort will be made to change this situation, resulting in an unfulfilled promise to the citizens and no immediate solution to make up for the project’s absence.
Initially introduced as an emblem of political change, it has ultimately turned into merely another unfulfilled promise. This situation has undermined the government’s discourse on combating corruption and has created further public skepticism.
