Edition of October 25, 2026
Rebel Bites
Theresa Ejiro EfiakpovworeARENA ratifies Mayteé Iraheta and Verónica Henríquez as its presidential ticket for 2027
The Nationalist Republican Alliance party (ARENA) ratified on Sunday, at its 45th General Assembly, Mayteé Iraheta as its presidential candidate and Verónica Henríquez as its vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 elections. The president of the party's National Executive Council (COENA), Carlos García Saade, spoke during the assembly. Candidate Iraheta, for her part, thanked the party members who have kept the party alive.
Haiti's anti-gang force received human remains but says it cannot yet confirm whether they are the four Salvadorans
The Gang Suppression Force (GSF), the multinational mission operating in Haiti with UN authorization, said in a statement that a humanitarian organization handed it unidentified human remains that could belong to the four Salvadoran soldiers missing since the October 18 attack in Croix-des-Bouquets. The GSF said it is not currently in a position to confirm whether the remains are those of its personnel and that it will share more information through its official channels once it has verified data. On Saturday, President Nayib Bukele had said the remains were not those of the air force technicians. The mission also clarified that a Chadian soldier's ID that circulated on social media belongs to a soldier from that contingent who lost it during the search, and that he is safe with his unit. The four Salvadorans remain officially missing.
Abinader says he spoke with Bukele about logistics and intelligence cooperation for operations in Haiti
Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader said on Saturday on his X account that he spoke with Nayib Bukele “about logistics and intelligence cooperation for the operations against the criminal gangs in Haiti” (our translation), where the search continues for the four Salvadoran air force technicians missing since October 18. According to El Diario de Hoy and ContraPunto, Abinader did not specify what resources or information his country would provide, nor did he announce the deployment of Dominican troops. He also said his government is in contact with the Gang Suppression Force and has reinforced the border with Haiti, especially in the south, with more personnel, armored vehicles and equipment.
The Inter American Press Association warns of a hostile climate for the press in El Salvador
The Inter American Press Association (IAPA/SIP) said in the conclusions of its 82nd General Assembly, which ended on Sunday in Bogotá, that at least 210 attacks against the press were recorded in El Salvador between January and mid-July 2026. According to the country report cited by EFE, that figure comes from the Journalists Attacks Monitoring Center of the Association of Journalists of El Salvador (APES), and the most frequent forms were stigmatizing statements and digital harassment. The IAPA says fear and caution prevail among independent journalists and media, and in its conclusions it says at least 40 Salvadoran journalists had to go into exile. The report also mentions restrictions on access to official events and public information.
Los Chorros reopens on Sunday morning, well ahead of schedule, after a slope was blasted
The Ministry of Public Works reopened the Los Chorros stretch of the Pan-American Highway at around 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, even though the full closure had been scheduled from midnight until 11:59 p.m. A controlled blast was carried out in the early hours on a slope near the Los Chorros recreational park, as part of the highway widening and viaduct construction. Afterwards, crews with heavy machinery removed the rocks and debris that fell onto the road. Los Chorros is the main link between San Salvador and the west of the country.
Bukele says the remains handed over in Haiti are not those of the four Salvadoran air force technicians
The New York Times and Reuters reported on Saturday that four bodies had been found on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince that could be those of the four Salvadoran air force technicians kidnapped by gangs in Haiti, as reported by Diario Co Latino and El Diario de Hoy. Hours later, President Nayib Bukele denied it on X: “They are not our men” (our translation). According to Bukele, an NGO handed over human remains at the airport claiming they belonged to the technicians, but they are those of a child, a man considerably taller than them, and a person wearing part of another army's uniform; ID cards and military uniforms from other countries were also found. The government has given no new information on the whereabouts of the four soldiers, who are still being searched for.
Peru's President Keiko Fujimori will visit El Salvador from October 28 to 31 with her foreign and justice ministers
Peru's government authorized Foreign Minister Carlos Espá and Justice and Human Rights Minister Ernesto Álvarez to accompany President Keiko Fujimori on her official visit to El Salvador, from October 28 to 31, according to Infobae (with EFE) and Willax. The schedule includes a private meeting between Fujimori and President Nayib Bukele, meetings with El Salvador's ministers of Justice and Public Security, Education and Health, and a visit to the Terrorism Confinement Center (Cecot).
Def Leppard plays the Estadio Cuscatlán again, with police and army security in place
British rock band Def Leppard performed on Saturday night, October 24, at the Estadio Cuscatlán in San Salvador, in a concert that drew fans from several generations, according to El Diario de Hoy and Contrapunto. Both outlets highlight a show with a big visual production and a set of the band's classics. According to the PNC, police teams ran a security operation at the stadium and around it and searched attendees to keep illegal items out. The Armed Forces said they took part in that operation alongside the PNC.
Police report zero homicides on Saturday, October 24
According to the National Civil Police (PNC), Saturday, October 24 ended with no homicides in the country. The PNC announced it on X shortly after midnight, and the presidential press office credited it to the work of President Nayib Bukele's government to guarantee security. It is the third day in a row with this official report, after Thursday, October 22 and Friday, October 23. The figure is the PNC's own; no further breakdown was published.
Press Secretariat: The audience at the open-air cinema on the Monseñor Romero boulevard plaza watched Real Madrid's 2-1 win over FC Barcelona in the Spanish Clásico
The presidential press office says the audience at the open-air cinema on the Monseñor Romero boulevard plaza watched Real Madrid's 2-1 win over FC Barcelona in the Spanish Clásico.
PNC: Shows their Special Forces carrying out stops and document checks in Usulután Oeste, San Salvador Sur and Cuscatlán Sur
The police show their Special Forces carrying out stops and document checks in Usulután Oeste, San Salvador Sur and Cuscatlán Sur.
Press Secretariat: Promotes live music this afternoon at the tourist pier in Puerto de La Libertad
The presidential press office promotes live music this afternoon at the tourist pier in Puerto de La Libertad.
PNC: Shows officers at Lake Güija, Cerro Verde and Lake Coatepeque, tourist spots in Santa Ana, on Sunday
The police show officers at Lake Güija, Cerro Verde and Lake Coatepeque, tourist spots in Santa Ana, on Sunday.
Bukele: Quotes a correction by the account Haití en Español, which acknowledged that he did not claim the soldier whose ID card he showed was dead and apologized; the president thanks it for the clarification
Bukele quotes a correction by the account Haití en Español, which acknowledged that he did not claim the soldier whose ID card he showed was dead and apologized; the president thanks it for the clarification.
PNC: Says they are providing security at the traditional Field Day for farming and livestock families in Ciudad Arce, La Libertad Centro
The police say they are providing security at the traditional Field Day for farming and livestock families in Ciudad Arce, La Libertad Centro.
PNC: Officers are taking part in and providing security at the Games Festival at the Arturo Simeón Magaña stadium in Ahuachapán Centro
The police say officers are taking part in and providing security at the Games Festival at the Arturo Simeón Magaña stadium in Ahuachapán Centro.
PNC: A security detail is escorting women runners through the streets of San Miguel, Cabañas and Santa Ana
The police say a security detail is escorting women runners through the streets of San Miguel, Cabañas and Santa Ana.
PNC: Says they keep a permanent presence at farmers' markets and deployments in all 14 departments
The police say they keep a permanent presence at farmers' markets and deployments in all 14 departments.
Press Secretariat: Repeats that the Atlas Leader docked on Saturday at the port of La Unión with more than 400 vehicles
The press office repeats that the Atlas Leader docked on Saturday at the port of La Unión with more than 400 vehicles.
Press Secretariat: Highlights the widening of the Pan-American Highway and the construction of the Francisco Morazán viaduct
The press office highlights the widening of the Pan-American Highway and the construction of the Francisco Morazán viaduct.
Press Secretariat: A controlled blast of a slope was carried out on Saturday night on the Pan-American Highway at Los Chorros, which remains closed on Sunday
The press office reports that a controlled blast of a slope was carried out on Saturday night on the Pan-American Highway at Los Chorros, which remains closed on Sunday.
Press Secretariat: Echoes the PNC's report of zero homicides on Saturday, October 24
The press office echoes the PNC's report of zero homicides on Saturday, October 24.
PNC: Saturday, October 24 ended with zero homicides in the country
The PNC reports that Saturday, October 24 ended with zero homicides in the country.
Armed Forces: Shows Salvadorans and foreign tourists arriving at a show on Saturday night and highlight security
The Armed Forces show Salvadorans and foreign tourists arriving at a show on Saturday night and highlight security.
PNC: Shows officers searching people attending the Def Leppard concert at the Estadio Cuscatlán
The PNC shows officers searching people attending the Def Leppard concert at the Estadio Cuscatlán.
Armed Forces: Says they are running a security operation with the PNC around the Estadio Cuscatlán during the Def Leppard concert
The Armed Forces say they are running a security operation with the PNC around the Estadio Cuscatlán during the Def Leppard concert.
PNC: Shows fans arriving at the Estadio Cuscatlán for the Def Leppard concert
The PNC shows fans arriving at the Estadio Cuscatlán for the Def Leppard concert.
Bukele: The human remains handed over by an NGO at the airport are not those of the four Salvadoran air force technicians missing in Haiti
Bukele says the human remains handed over by an NGO at the airport are not those of the four Salvadoran air force technicians missing in Haiti.
PNC: Reports on its security operation at and around the Estadio Cuscatlán for the Def Leppard concert
The PNC reports on its security operation at and around the Estadio Cuscatlán for the Def Leppard concert.
PNC: Shows its deployments at tourist spots in Tejutla, Santiago Texacuangos, Atiquizaya and Berlín
The PNC shows its deployments at tourist spots in Tejutla, Santiago Texacuangos, Atiquizaya and Berlín.