Honduras: President Hernández declared election winner /update 23

Event

On Sunday, December 17, Honduras’s electoral authorities (Tribunal Supremo Electoral; TSE) confirmed incumbent President Juan Orlando Hernández as the official winner of the country’s November 26 presidential election. Following the announcement, opposition candidate Salvador Nasralla issued a call for his supporters to protest across the country on December 18. On Sunday evening, protests reportedly broke out in various neighborhoods in the capital Tegucigalpa and in the cities of San Pedro Sula, El Progreso, and La Lima. Large demonstrations and heightened security measures - along with associated transportation disruptions and possible violence - are expected in cities and along major thoroughfares in Honduras in the coming days.

Context

Protests denouncing the results of the November 26 presidential election have been ongoing throughout the country over the past three weeks. There have been reports of vandalism and looting, particularly in urban areas. On December 1, military officials announced that the government had suspended several constitutional rights, granting security forces greater power to address election-related protests and violence.

The Organization of American States (OAS) and Human Rights Watch have cited election "irregularities" and "indications of election fraud," respectively.

Advice

Individuals in Honduras are advised to adhere to any instructions issued by local authorities, to monitor the situation, and to strictly avoid all demonstrations.

Visitors to the country should note that political activism by foreign nationals is prohibited under Honduran law. Foreigners who take part in demonstrations or other political activities risk detention and or/deportation.