Honduras, UN sign anti-corruption commission deal

Honduras and the United Nations have signed an agreement that paves the way for a new international anti-corruption commission in the Central American nation

Honduran Foreign Minister Enrique Reina signed the memorandum of understanding in New York with U.N. Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenca, in the presence of U.N. chief Antonio Guterres and leftist President Xiomara Castro.

The deal, the International Mission Against Corruption and Impunity (CICIH), will be the second such commission installed in Honduras, after another anti-corruption mission backed by the Organisation of American States (OAS) left in early 2020.

The previous commission, known as the Mission to Support the Fight against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (MACCIH), began work in 2016 and uncovered corruption of many officials, congressmen and politicians linked to former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez.

The OAS-backed MACCIH left the country after it failed to agree with then-President Hernandez on extending its stay.

Also Read:Honduras extradites former president to US to face drug charges

Hernandez was extradited to the United States in early 2022 on drug trafficking charges.

President Castro, who came to power in January, pledged in her campaign to install the new mechanism to investigate widespread corruption in Honduras, where close to three-quarters of people live in poverty and widespread graft has fuelled violence and spurred mass migration.

Foreign Minister Enrique Reina told local television that the agreement marks a preliminary step, after which the U.N. and Honduras would sign a bilateral treaty for the anti-corruption commission to come into force.

Reuters/Zainab Sa’id