Edition of October 29, 2026
Rebel Bites
Theresa Ejiro EfiakpovworeKeiko Fujimori tours CECOT at the start of her official visit to El Salvador
Peru's president, Keiko Fujimori, toured the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) in Tecoluca, San Vicente, on Thursday, October 29, as part of her official visit to El Salvador. According to the Presidency, she was received by Defense Minister René Francis Merino Monroy and Justice and Public Security Minister Gustavo Villatoro, who were to present the country's security progress and prison model to her. Contrapunto reported that CECOT director Belarmino García was also present, and that her agenda includes a meeting with President Nayib Bukele and visits to a school and a hospital. The Presidency announced that Bukele would receive her on Thursday afternoon at the Presidential House. Contrapunto noted that this model has been questioned by human rights organizations over detention conditions and due-process guarantees.
Bukele tells Haitians the Salvadoran deployment in Haiti "is not an invasion"
President Nayib Bukele posted a message on X in Haitian Creole addressed to the people of Haiti, saying El Salvador is close to finishing the deployment of its soldiers and equipment there. According to the Presidency's press office, Bukele stated: "This is not an operation against the Haitian people, nor an invasion of the country of Haiti" (our translation). In the message he said the only goal is to bring the four Salvadoran aviation technicians home and to fight the gangs, and that El Salvador is covering 90% of the operation's costs with its own resources. He also asked people to pray for Haiti and said that when the mission ends, the Salvadorans will return home. According to Infobae, as of Thursday there was no official information on the whereabouts of the four technicians.
Government reports its largest land drug seizure: 150,000 portions
Justice and Public Security Minister Gustavo Villatoro reported on Thursday, October 29 the seizure of 150,000 portions of drugs that were being transported in a truck and two sedan-type vehicles. According to the minister, "this is the largest land-based drug seizure carried out by our law enforcement" (our translation). According to Villatoro, the operation was carried out by the PNC with the support of canine units, three of those captured are Guatemalan, and the detainees will be prosecuted for drug trafficking, illicit association and money laundering. The total number of detainees is unclear: the minister's post speaks of five arrests but lists seven people. According to Infobae, the type of drug, the weight of the shipment and the exact location of the operation were not disclosed.
Former president Elías Antonio Saca leaves prison and goes to the Isidro Menéndez Judicial Center
Former president Elías Antonio Saca, who governed from 2004 to 2009, left prison and appeared on Thursday afternoon, October 29, at the Isidro Menéndez Judicial Center in San Salvador to complete paperwork tied to his release, according to El Diario de Hoy and Infobae. Saca served his ten-year prison sentence, five years for embezzlement and five for money and asset laundering, handed down in 2018 in a summary proceeding in which he admitted the facts; he had been arrested on October 30, 2016. According to El Diario de Hoy, he arrived with Élmer Charlaix, the Presidency's former private secretary, and avoided making statements to reporters. The same outlet noted that the Attorney General's Office said the assets linked to the case will remain in state custody.
El Salvador confirms more than 2,000 troops in Haiti to search for its four missing soldiers
According to a statement from El Salvador's Foreign Ministry, President Nayib Bukele spoke by phone on Wednesday, October 28 with Haiti's prime minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, about the operation to rescue four Salvadoran soldiers missing since an ambush on October 18 near Port-au-Prince. The Foreign Ministry said "El Salvador will continue the operational deployment of more than 2,000 soldiers" (our translation) in what it described as a large-scale operation backed by several countries and international organizations. According to the statement, Bukele reaffirmed the country's willingness to keep supporting security work against gangs in Haiti and thanked Haitian authorities for their cooperation. El Diario de Hoy notes that the official figure is higher than the roughly 1,300 troops previously reported by Haitian media. So far there has been no official word on the whereabouts of the four soldiers.
Police report zero homicides on Wednesday, October 28
According to the National Civil Police (PNC), Wednesday, October 28 ended with no homicides in the country. The PNC posted it on X after midnight, and the presidential press office credited it to the security work led by President Nayib Bukele. It is the seventh day in a row with this official report. The figure is the PNC's own; no further breakdown was published.
Firefighters control a blaze at the Ciudad Arce municipal market
According to the presidential press office, the Fire Department brought under control a fire on the ground floor of the municipal market in the district of Ciudad Arce, La Libertad Centro, and kept the flames from spreading. The information was posted on X early on Thursday, October 29. According to those posts, firefighters were still putting out the remaining hot spots and keeping a safety perimeter around the area. No injuries or cause of the fire were reported.
The US gives $100,000 to digitize about 7,000 archaeological pieces in El Salvador
According to the US Embassy, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy Sarah B. Rogers announced a $100,000 grant to digitally document El Salvador's movable cultural heritage. The project aims to protect approximately 7,000 items in the National Archaeology Collection and strengthen cooperation against looting and illicit trafficking of cultural property. The Ministry of Culture will carry it out over 30 months, from September 2026 to March 2029, with a web platform where each piece will have a standardized record and high-resolution photos. Culture Minister Raúl Castillo took part in the launch.
The US extradites a 27-year-old man to El Salvador to face charges over a 2019 femicide
According to the US Embassy, which published a statement from the US Attorney's Office for the Central District of California, a 27-year-old man with dual US and Salvadoran citizenship was handed over to Salvadoran authorities on Wednesday, October 28, at El Salvador's request. He will face charges of aggravated femicide and attempted homicide over the death of a woman in 2019. According to the extradition request, the woman's body was found on February 1, 2019 near a road, and days later farmworkers found the couple's son, a child under two, alive and severely dehydrated. The accused had been in US custody since October 2024. These are accusations; he has not been tried.
Firpo lose 2-1 to Saprissa in stoppage time and miss out on the Concacaf Champions Cup
Luis Ángel Firpo were knocked out of the Central American Cup play-in after losing 2-1 to Deportivo Saprissa on Wednesday, October 28 in Costa Rica, following a 0-0 first leg in San Salvador. Saprissa went ahead through Gerson Torres and Mauricio Cerritos equalized from the penalty spot for Firpo. The goal that sent the Costa Rican side through came in the final minutes, in stoppage time. With the result, Saprissa earn a place in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup and Firpo end their international campaign for 2026. On Tuesday, Alianza had also been knocked out of that tournament.
El Salvador call up seven overseas players for the Gold Cup 2027 play-in against Saint Martin
The Salvadoran Football Federation (FESFUT) announced the call-up of seven players based abroad for the series against Saint Martin on the road to the 2027 Gold Cup. The list includes, among others, Brayan Gil (Baltika, Russia), Nathan Ordaz (D.C. United, United States), Joshua Pérez (Odra Opole, Poland), Cristian Martínez (San Carlos, Costa Rica) and Nelson Blanco (San Antonio FC, United States). Jorge "Gugu" Méndez of Panama's San Francisco was also called up, although according to FESFUT he is still awaiting FIFA approval to switch federations. The first leg is away on Friday, November 13, and the return leg is on Tuesday, November 17 at the Jorge "Mágico" González stadium.
Presidency: Announced that Bukele would receive Peru's president, Keiko Fujimori, at the Presidential House on Thursday
The Presidency announced that Bukele would receive Peru's president, Keiko Fujimori, at the Presidential House on Thursday.
Press Secretariat: Said firefighters responded to a house fire in Montes de San Bartolo, Soyapango
The press office said firefighters responded to a house fire in Montes de San Bartolo, Soyapango.
Press Secretariat: Summarized Bukele's message to Haitians: the deployment aims to fight gangs and bring the four technicians home, and is not an invasion
The press office summarized Bukele's message to Haitians: the deployment aims to fight gangs and bring the four technicians home, and is not an invasion.
Bukele: Posted a message in Haitian Creole to the people of Haiti: he says the deployment is not an invasion, that the aim is to bring the four technicians home and fight the gangs, and that El Salvador pays 90% of the costs
Bukele posted a message in Haitian Creole to the people of Haiti: he says the deployment is not an invasion, that the aim is to bring the four technicians home and fight the gangs, and that El Salvador pays 90% of the costs.
Presidency: Said Keiko Fujimori toured CECOT, where she was received by the defense and security ministers
The Presidency said Keiko Fujimori toured CECOT, where she was received by the defense and security ministers.
Press Secretariat: Said firefighters controlled a fire on the ground floor of the Ciudad Arce municipal market and kept it from spreading
The press office said firefighters controlled a fire on the ground floor of the Ciudad Arce municipal market and kept it from spreading.
Press Secretariat: Highlighted another day without homicides and credited it to President Bukele's security work
The press office highlighted another day without homicides and credited it to President Bukele's security work.
PNC: Reported that Wednesday, October 28 ended with no homicides in the country
The PNC reported that Wednesday, October 28 ended with no homicides in the country.
Press Secretariat: Announced that Bukele will receive Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori on an official visit on Thursday
The press office announced that Bukele will receive Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori on an official visit on Thursday.
Press Secretariat: Said it handed over an upgraded drinking water system for a community association in Corinto, Morazán Norte
The government said it handed over an upgraded drinking water system for a community association in Corinto, Morazán Norte.
Presidency: Welcomed Keiko Fujimori, who arrived on an official visit and was received with honors by Foreign Minister Alexandra Hill Tinoco
The Presidency welcomed Keiko Fujimori, who arrived on an official visit and was received with honors by Foreign Minister Alexandra Hill Tinoco.
PNC: Showed patrols at recreational areas in San Salvador Sur, Ahuachapán Centro and San Miguel Centro
The PNC showed patrols at recreational areas in San Salvador Sur, Ahuachapán Centro and San Miguel Centro.
PNC: Said its teams and the Armed Forces are deployed nationwide as part of the Territorial Control Plan
The PNC said its teams and the Armed Forces are deployed nationwide as part of the Territorial Control Plan.