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El Salvador

El Salvador

The latest news, analysis and opinion on El Salvador. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

San Salvador

Head of State

President Nayib Bukele

Head of Government

President Nayib Bukele

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Inmates at the Terrorism Confinement Centre (CECOT) prison, in Tecoluca, El Salvador. Photo: Reuters

US judge bars Trump’s use of wartime law to deport Venezuelans

Ruling marks the biggest setback yet for Trump to deport suspected gang members under the rarely used Alien Enemies Act.

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El Salvadore’s Bukele suggests prisoner swap with Maduro for Venezuela deportees

21 Apr 2025 - 10:28AM

Man wrongly deported from US says he’s been moved from El Salvador mega-prison

19 Apr 2025 - 3:08PM

Judge finds cause to hold Trump admin in contempt for El Salvador deportations

The administration did not turn around planes carrying deportees to a notorious prison despite an order from the court.

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El Salvador’s Bukele says he will not return wrongly deported migrant to US

Trump administration has been ordered by a court to facilitate return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia after he was deported without due process.

15 Apr 2025 - 9:27AM

Supreme Court says Trump admin must help bring back man sent to El Salvador

Kilmar Abrego Garcia was deported and put in a notorious prison in his native country despite being in the US legally.

11 Apr 2025 - 7:42AM

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Man wrongly deported to El Salvador by US must stay for now, Supreme Court says

US district judge earlier had found US had no authority to detain and deport migrant who lived in Maryland legally and ordered his return.

8 Apr 2025 - 9:29AM

A man identified by Jennifer Vasquez Sura as her husband, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, is led by force through the Terrorism Confinement Centre in Tecoluca, El Salvador, on Wednesday. Photo: US District Court for the District of Maryland via AP

US deports man with legal status to El Salvador prison because of ‘error’

Government lawyers argue that despite the mistake, US courts did not have jurisdiction to secure Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s release.

2 Apr 2025 - 4:59PM

US homeland security chief warns migrants in visit to El Salvador mega-jail

Kristi Noem’s trip to CECOT comes as the Trump administration seeks to show it is deporting the ‘worst of the worst’.

27 Mar 2025 - 1:45PM

Americas and the Caribbean

Venezuela to resume US deportation flights after citizens sent to El Salvador

Caracas is seeking the return of its ‘kidnapped’ citizens, who were moved to a Salvadorean high-security facility by Trump’s administration.

23 Mar 2025 - 3:06AM

Venezuelan migrants deported from the US deplane at the Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia, Venezuela, in February. Photo: AP

Mexico seeks to prevent US from deporting Mexicans to Guantanamo Bay

President Claudia Sheinbaum says Mexicans should be sent only to Mexico as US ramps up deportations.

19 Mar 2025 - 1:56PM

Holding tents for detained migrants at the United States’ Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Photo: US Navy via Reuters

US labels 8 drug cartels as terrorist groups as part of Trump border crackdown

The label is normally reserved for groups like al-Qaeda or Isis that use violence for political ends, not for money-focused crime rings.

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American prisoners could soon be bound for El Salvador’s jails

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump’s administration was ‘profoundly grateful’ for the ‘offer of friendship’ to house US prisoners.

4 Feb 2025 - 2:35PM

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El Salvador’s President Bukele triumphant after his bet on bitcoin comes true

As bitcoin surpassed US$100,000 for first time, value of El Salvador government’s reported investment now stands at more than US$600 million.

6 Dec 2024 - 7:20AM

El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele. Photo: AP

Mural paintings make a bullet-scarred neighbourhood ‘proud’

Civil war and gang violence left a Central American neighbourhood scarred. Painting huge murals on housing blocks heralds a brighter future.

19 Sep 2024 - 7:15PM

Americas and the Caribbean

El Salvador’s Bukele threatens to hit price gougers with anti-gang tactics

The self-styled ‘world’s coolest dictator’ warned that he was ‘not playing around’ and that he expected prices to come down ‘by tomorrow’.

7 Jul 2024 - 6:40AM

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Americas and the Caribbean

El Salvador’s President Bukele declares landslide victory in election

‘World’s Coolest Dictator’ Nayib Bukele claims a second five-year term in El Salvador, riding a wave of support for his no-limit ‘war’ on gangs.

5 Feb 2024 - 3:09PM

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele and his wife Gabriela Rodriguez wave to supporters from the balcony of the presidential palace in San Salvador. Photo: AP

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‘World’s Coolest Dictator’ set for landslide election win for war on gangs

In less than five years, President Nayib Bukele has transformed El Salvador from a country infamous for its record on murder and gangs to a nation with one of the lowest homicide rates in the Americas.

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Messi, Suarez exit at half-time as Hong Kong-bound Inter Miami start world tour

Low-key debut for Suarez as marquee stars play first half in El Salvador, before hectic preseason schedule takes them to Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and Japan.

20 Jan 2024 - 1:36PM

Americas and the Caribbean

Nicaragua wins Miss Universe for first time as Pakistan, Portugal make history

Miss Nicaragua took the crown in El Salvador, as multiple contestants made history, including the first participant to wear a burkini and the pageant’s first transgender contestant to place in the top 20.

19 Nov 2023 - 2:33PM

Miss Nicaragua Sheynnis Palacios reacts after being crowned Miss Universe during the 72nd Miss Universe pageant in San Salvador, El Salvador November 18, 2023. REUTERS/Jose Cabezas TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Americas and the Caribbean

Inside El Salvador ‘mega prison’ holding 12,000 accused gang members

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele’s relentless war on gangs is steadily filling the cellblocks of a massive prison that may be Latin America’s largest.

23 Aug 2023 - 1:03PM

The prison, formally known as the Terrorism Confinement Centre, was built to hold 40,000 inmates. Photo: AFP

Fame and celebrity

Meet Rikkie Kolle, the first transgender woman to win Miss Netherlands

The 22-year-old called her historic beauty pageant win ‘the big dream’ and will go on to compete for the Miss Universe crown in El Salvador – but how did she get here?

1 Aug 2023 - 5:04PM

Americas and the Caribbean

‘Dictator of El Salvador’ basks in popularity as he wages war on gangs

In his four years as president, Nayib Bukele has shaken up El Salvador: consolidating power, making Bitcoin legal tender and building the largest prison in the Americas.

31 May 2023 - 2:37PM

Fifa statement after football stadium stampede kills at least 12 in El Salvador

Initial reports point to crush of fans trying to enter Cuscatlan Stadium in San Salvador to watch match between Alianza and FAS, authorities say.

21 May 2023 - 7:58PM

Fans spill on to the field at Cuscatlan Stadium in San Salvador after a crush that left at least 12 people dead. Photo: AP

Americas and the Caribbean

El Salvador moves thousands to ‘mega prison’ amid gang crackdown

The 40,000-person facility – thought to be the largest in the Americas – is opening as a wave of anti-crime arrests sends the nation’s inmate population soaring.

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Inmates belonging to the MS-13 and 18 gangs arrive at the new prison in Tecoluca, El Salvador on Friday. Photo: Salvadorean Presidency via AFP

China launches free-trade talks with El Salvador in America’s ‘backyard’

China and El Salvador will begin free-trade talks with the aim of finalising a deal ‘as soon as possible’, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele and the Chinese foreign ministry say.

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El Salvador leader warns he’ll cut all food for gang inmates after killings

A recent spate of homicides prompted President Nayib Bukele to declare a state of emergency, with some 6,000 street gang members rounded up.

6 Apr 2022 - 1:22PM

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