Photo via France 24
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To holistically understand El Salvador’s current political state, one must first understand its political history.
The United States has a complex relationship with El Salvador dating back to the Salvadoran Civil War (1979-1992), when the United States backed the Salvadoran government with military and financial aid against left-wing rebel factions. The U.S. supported successive Salvadoran governments, viewing them as defenses against communist influence in Central America during the Cold War.
U.S. involvement in the conflict remains controversial, with there being several allegations of human rights abuses and atrocities committed by Salvadoran government forces supported by American aid. Aid from the U.S., totaling $4.5 billion of economic aid and $1 billion of military aid by the end of the war, supported the Salvadoran armed forces in their fight against a coalition of leftist guerrilla groups known as the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN).
The FMLN was formed in the early 1980s in response to the repressive and often violent rule of the Salvadoran government. Named after Farabundo Martí, a revolutionary leader in El Salvador’s history, the FMLN aimed to overthrow the government and implement social and economic reforms to benefit Salvadoran society’s marginalized and oppressed sectors. The FMLN drew support from various groups, including peasants, workers, students, and intellectuals. Throughout the war, the FMLN carried out guerrilla warfare tactics targeting government forces and infrastructure, including ambushes, bombings, and assassinations.
A Salvadoran Militia in 1992 after the signing of the Chapultepec Peace Accords. Source.
The Salvadoran Civil War concluded with the signing of the Chapultepec Peace Accords in January 1992, facilitated by the United Nations. These accords were pivotal in addressing the root causes of the conflict, laying the groundwork for peace and reconciliation. Key elements of the agreement include the demobilization and disarmament of the FMLN guerrillas, as well as institutional reforms such as restructuring the military and police to foster greater accountability and inclusivity. While the peace accords represented what should have been a significant milestone in El Salvador’s history, marking the end of a prolonged and devastating conflict, challenges persisted in fully implementing their provisions. The enduring legacy of this era continues to influence Salvadoran society and politics today. The scars of war, the struggle for social justice, and the quest for stability still shape the country’s political landscape.
El Salvador, being the smallest and most densely populated country in Central America—with a population of just over six million people distributed across approximately eight thousand square miles—has endured an extensive history of violence. In recent years, it has been under the leadership of Nayib Bukele, a charismatic but contentious president who has promised to bring stability and prosperity to the developing country. However, Bukele’s methods have raised significant concerns regarding El Salvador’s observance of democracy and human rights.
Bukele’s rise to power began in 2019, when he was elected president on a wave of anti-establishment sentiment. He previously served as mayor of Nuevo Cuscatlán and San Salvador, where he gained popularity for his social media acuteness and willingness to take on the political establishment. Bukele’s outsider status and his promises to crack down on gang violence, which had long plagued the country, resonated with many Salvadorans who were desperate for change.
El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. Source.
Yet, despite his popularity, Bukele’s presidency has been marked by controversy. In 2020, he ordered the military to occupy the National Assembly after lawmakers refused to approve his funding requests. This move was widely seen as an attempted coup and solidified Bukele’s power. Bukele’s signature policy is his “Territorial Control Plan,” a militarized crackdown on gang violence. The plan has been credited with a significant reduction in homicides, but has also been criticized for human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings and arbitrary detentions. Although the Salvadoran government has denied these allegations, human rights groups have documented numerous instances of people being arrested without warrants, tortured in custody, and executed without a trial.
In early 2023, Bukele posted a divisive video on Twitter showcasing the inauguration of the country’s new “megaprison,” the Center for Confining Terrorism, which has the capacity to house 40,000 inmates. The video, edited with disturbing visuals portraying the inhumane treatment of prisoners and set to thrilling music, went viral, drawing praise from far-right commentators in the U.S. and stirring concerns among human rights activists. This release coincided with a damning U.S. indictment accusing Bukele’s government of covert dealings with the notorious MS-13 gang, allegedly offering concessions in exchange for artificially reduced gang violence.
Bukele’s administration has drawn further criticism for its “tough-on-crime” approach, including suspending constitutional rights, which subsequently led to a surge in the incarceration rate. By mid-2022, an estimated 2% of El Salvador’s adult population, roughly equating to 100,000 individuals, was incarcerated, as reported by an Amnesty International assessment drawing from local media sources. Government data also revealed that over 75,000 individuals have been incarcerated since the declaration of a state of emergency, translating to more than 150 people detained daily. These statistics have caused distress among human rights activists, who argue that many of the arrests lack proper justification.
Despite these controversies, Bukele maintains high approval ratings among Salvadorans, positioning himself as a bold leader unafraid of critiques. He has even granted himself the title “World’s Coolest Dictator.” The Salvadoran people may be willing to overlook his human rights violations due to the country’s drastic decline in violence. In fact, as recently as 2015, El Salvador was considered the most deadly country on the continent.
Sara Leon, a 48-year-old mother, participated in a celebration marking Bukele’s impressive reforms in the once crime-ridden downtown El Salvador. At 23, Leon took the treacherous journey from El Salvador to the United States with her 6-year-old daughter to escape the dangers posed by local gangs. She claimed that “if the gangs spotted an attractive girl, they would abduct, assault, and murder her. I couldn’t bear the thought of that happening to my daughter.” Leon returned to her homeland in October 2023 due to the state of emergency, expressing her intention to purchase a home there and hoping for her daughter, now residing in Toronto, to do the same eventually.
In February 2024, Bukele was re-elected in a landslide victory with 87% of total votes, despite concerns regarding the constitutionality of his bid for a second term. Throughout his presidency, Bukele has frequently faced allegations of political foul play, including accusations of appointing loyalists to the judiciary and manipulating legislation to consolidate authority within his grasp, craftily permitting himself to serve a consecutive term.
The U.S.—a major source of aid for the country—has expressed disapproval for Bukele’s human rights record. In recent years, the U.S. has withheld aid from El Salvador to pressure Bukele to improve the human rights situation. However, as the U.S. recognizes the nation as a strategic partner in the region, it is unlikely to abandon it completely.
The future of El Salvador is uncertain. Bukele remains popular, but his authoritarian tendencies and disregard for democratic institutions raise concerns about the country’s future. It is imperative that the U.S. and international community carefully navigate their relationship with El Salvador so that democracy and human rights may be protected.
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This article was edited by Emory Olander and Delbar Nonahal.