Peruvian president’s residence raided over Rolexes
Around 40 Peruvian officials raided the private residence of President Dina Boluarte late on Friday night and the presidential palace early Saturday morning. The public prosecutor’s office is investigating reports that Boluarte owns several Rolex watches, allegedly acquired without disclosure in the past three years, during Boluarte’s tenure in government. The president alleges she bought the watches with her own money from working “since she was young.” Experts reportedly estimate that the collection is worth around $500,000.
Boluarte and members of her cabinet denounced the raids, saying Saturday that she has no plans to resign. She will reportedly testify to the prosecutor’s office this Friday, April 5th. Peru has had six presidents in as many years, with Boluarte entering office in December 2022 following the impeachment and arrest of then-president Pedro Castillo. (AP, Al Jazeera, Reuters, Al Jazeera)
More Peru
Peru’s struggles with democracy and rule of law have led to a quiet but growing trend of emigration, reports Americas Quarterly, calling for the US to take a more active approach to the country, particularly in response to efforts to rewrite parts of the constitution and concerns surrounding the fairness of the upcoming 2026 elections.
Haiti
Haiti’s transitional government must include and engage with Haitian civil society in order to gain popular buy-in and succeed at bringing stability to the country, according to USIP.
“Canada has sent around 70 soldiers to Jamaica to train troops from Caribbean nations who are due to take part in a U.N.-authorized mission to Haiti,” notes Reuters.
Venezuela
“The Biden administration is leaning away from reimposing sanctions on Venezuela’s oil industry despite President Nicolás Maduro’s moves to bar leading opposition candidates from the country’s July elections,” reports Wall Street Journal.
“Millions of Venezuelans who fled economic misery in their country could find themselves unable to vote in key July presidential elections, as complaints mount over hurdles at consulates abroad for those seeking to register,” reports Buenos Aires Times.
Brazil
Some Brazilians are calling for the US to declassify the thousands of still-classified records related to Brazil’s brutal military dictatorship and the potential of US involvement in or knowledge of human rights abuses. (Responsible Statecraft)
The New Yorker highlights “The Brazilian Special-Forces Unit Fighting to Save the Amazon,” working “to dislodge thousands of illicit miners from Yanomami territory.”
“Brazil’s Supreme Court denied a request by former president Jair Bolsonaro’s lawyers that his passport be returned to him so that he can travel to Israel,” reports AP.
Last week, Bolsonaro sparked controversy and suspicions that he may seek asylum abroad after spending two nights at the Hungarian embassy. (Reuters)
Regional
“Dengue cases in the Americas rose in the first three months of this year by three times the number of infections reported in the same period last year… Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay are the countries hardest hit by dengue in what PAHO officials described as potentially the worst outbreak in the Americas to date for the deadly mosquito-borne viral illness,” reports Reuters.
“The diplomatic row between Colombia and Argentina sparked by a war of words by its presidents looks to have been extinguished. The foreign ministries of both nations have announced that Colombia's ambassador to Argentina will return to Buenos Aires, two months after he was recalled,” reports Buenos Aires Times.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica wants to become the Silicon Valley of Latin America, says the New York Times, highlighting the country’s growing role in microchip production amid US competition with China. “Today, Costa Rica’s biggest category of exports is no longer coffee or bananas but medical devices.”
Migration
At least 10 migrants died across three separate incidents trying to migrate irregularly last week, including one case off the southern coast of Mexico and two along Chile’s northern border, I explain at the Americas Migration Brief newsletter.
“IRAP and partner organizations outline a “legal action agenda that sets concrete steps to ensure the rights and well-being of climate-displaced people in the Americas,” including both internal and international displacement contexts, as well as “the right to stay.”” (via Americas Migration Brief)
Guatemala
“Hours to make and seconds to destroy, Holy Week flower carpets are a labor of love in Guatemala” (AP)