The International Commission against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (CICIH) will not form a part of Xiomara Castro’s achievements. Even though it was declared as a fundamental aspect of her administration’s agenda, the plan was not realized and is excluded from the ongoing presidential term, concluding 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 official admission of failure, expressed by former Foreign Minister Enrique Reina, points to a combination of causes that, according to him, involve both legislative obstacles and international factors. However, for various social sectors, this explanation is insufficient.
The unfulfilled commitment that undermined confidence
Organizations connected to civil society and the global community concur that the primary responsibility rests with the current administration. According to experts and observers of the situation, the issue was not due to a shortage of external conditions but rather a lack of political will on behalf of the executive branch to honor its obligations.
From this perspective, the failure to implement the CICIH is neither an accident nor an inevitable outcome, but a decision.
This was expressed by Juan Jiménez Mayor, former spokesperson for the MACCIH, who directly questioned the government for abandoning a promise that had generated high expectations. These criticisms were echoed by Gabriela Castellanos, director of the National Anti-Corruption Council (CNA), who was emphatic in accusing the ruling party of using the CICIH as a campaign tool without any real intention of moving forward with its establishment.
A plan against corruption lacking institutional backing
The exit of the CICIH from the country’s affairs has consequences that stretch beyond mere administrative boundaries. The absence of tangible developments has strengthened the view that combating corruption is missing robust tools and governmental dedication. Trust in the executive power concerning this matter is weakened at a moment when calls for openness and responsibility are still pressing.
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.