The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned Luis Miguel Martinez Morales for his involvement in corruption in Guatemala, particularly in widespread bribery schemes related to government contracts. Martinez, the former head of the now-defunct Centro de Gobierno, was considered one of the most powerful unelected officials in the Guatemalan government. He influenced government contracts to benefit himself and associates, illegally awarding contracts and using outdated procurement laws to favor specific bidders. In 2021, Martinez solicited kickbacks to facilitate the purchase of Russian Sputnik V vaccines by the Guatemalan government. The sanctions, under Executive Order 13818, aim to hold accountable individuals engaged in corruption that undermines democracy and harms populations. This action aligns with U.S. efforts to address corruption as a root cause of irregular migration in the Central America region. Martinez’s designation blocks his property and interests in the U.S., emphasizing the U.S. government’s commitment to supporting the Guatemalan people against corruption.
By FCCT Editorial Team
, an independent military force, and allied militias in Sudan raped several dozen women and girls in West Darfur’s capital, El Geneina, and those fleeing to Chad between late April and late June 2023, Human Rights Watch said today. The assailants appear to have targeted people because of their Massalit ethnicity and, in some cases, because they were known activists.){kind=link}