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May 07, 2025 – El Salvador –
In early May 2025, El Salvador’s independent news outlet El Faro reported that at least seven of its journalists are facing imminent arrest following the publication of interviews with former gang leaders alleging longstanding ties between President Nayib Bukele’s administration and criminal organizations. The journalists are reportedly being targeted for charges including “unlawful association” and “advocacy of crime,” marking a significant escalation in the government’s crackdown on press freedom.
The controversy centers around a three-part video series released by El Faro, featuring testimonies from ex-leaders of the 18th Street Revolucionarios gang. These individuals claim that Bukele’s political ascent—from his 2015 mayoral campaign to his 2019 presidential victory—was facilitated by covert agreements with gangs, involving financial incentives and prison privileges in exchange for electoral support. The interviews provide on-camera accounts of these alleged pacts, shedding new light on previously reported but unconfirmed suspicions of government-gang collusion.
El Faro’s director, Carlos Dada, disclosed that a reliable source within the government informed them of the Attorney General’s Office’s plans to issue arrest warrants against the journalists involved in the investigation. Editor-in-chief Óscar Martínez emphasized that any arrests would be a direct attack on journalistic work, stating, “Any capture or raid on our homes will be for having done journalism.
This development has drawn condemnation from international press freedom organizations. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called on Salvadoran authorities to drop all criminal proceedings against El Faro’s journalists, asserting that “treating journalism as a criminal act deprives Salvadorans of vital information and undermines democratic principles.
The situation underscores growing concerns about the erosion of democratic norms in El Salvador under President Bukele’s leadership. Since taking office in 2019, Bukele has faced criticism for consolidating power, undermining judicial independence, and suppressing dissent. The potential arrests of El Faro’s journalists represent a significant threat to press freedom and highlight the challenges faced by independent media in the country.
Reference –
7 Salvadorian journalists face charges after report on president’s alleged gang ties
