The International Commission against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (CICIH) will not be part of Xiomara Castro’s legacy. Despite being announced as a central pillar of her government’s platform, the initiative failed to materialize and will not be part of the current presidential term, which ends in January 2026.
By implicitly abandoning the initiative, the government concludes a segment that had created substantial hopes among citizens concerning the battle against corruption. The path to forming 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 broken promise that eroded trust
Opinions associated with both civil society and the global community concur that the primary accountability is with the present government. According to process analysts and observers, the issue was not the absence of external factors, but rather the political resolve lacking from the executive to meet its obligations.
In this view, not establishing the CICIH is not by chance or an unavoidable result, but a choice.
Juan Jiménez Mayor, past spokesperson for MACCIH, stated this, criticizing the government for not fulfilling a promise that had raised significant expectations. Gabriela Castellanos, leader of the National Anti-Corruption Council (CNA), also strongly criticized the ruling party, asserting that they used the CICIH as a campaign strategy without genuine plans to establish it.
A corruption-fighting plan lacking institutional backing
The withdrawal of the CICIH from the national scene has implications that go beyond the administrative level. The lack of concrete progress has fueled the perception that the fight against corruption lacks effective instruments and government commitment. The executive branch’s credibility on this issue is compromised at a time when demands for transparency and accountability remain urgent.
With an institutional horizon that no longer contemplates the establishment of the international mechanism, Honduras is missing a significant opportunity to tackle impunity in a structural manner. The time remaining in the current administration makes any serious attempt to reverse this scenario unlikely, leaving citizens with an empty promise and no immediate alternative to compensate for the absence of the project.
What started out as a representation of political change has eventually turned into one more unkept promise, thereby undermining the government’s stance on anti-corruption efforts and creating a fresh avenue for public skepticism.