Honduras: Violent clashes between police and election protesters Nov. 30 /update 9

Event

Violent clashes are reportedly ongoing between Honduran police and pro-opposition supporters of Salvador Nasralla in Tegucigalpa late on Thursday, November 30. Additionally, pro-Nasralla protesters launched demonstrations on Thursday in Comayagua, Siguatepeque, Choluteca, Juticalpa, Orica, and Catacamas, among other cities, and on some of the country's major thoroughfares, resulting in traffic disruptions. Consequent casualties have been reported among both protesters and police as of November 30.

As of late Thursday night (local time), incumbent President Juan Orlando Hernández leads Nasralla by roughly 40,000 votes with over 90 percent of the ballots counted; the election result is expected to be formally announced when all votes have been tallied. Additional protests, political violence, and consequent traffic disruptions are expected in Honduras, and particularly in Tegucigalpa, in the coming days amid the impending election results announcement.

Context

The electoral commission - the Tribunal Supremo Electoral (TSE) - has been criticized by international observers for a lack of transparency amid the ongoing vote counting process, which is taking longer than expected. Nasralla has claimed that the TSE has manipulated the election tally in President Hernández's favor in recent days.

The campaign period was also marked by high sociopolitical tensions, with President Hernández's re-election bid denounced as illegal by the political opposition. At least one segment of the opposition already announced it would not accept the results should Hernández be re-elected.

Advice

Individuals in Honduras are advised to monitor developments to 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.