2024 in Guatemala explained

See also: 2024 in Central America.

The following lists events in the year 2024 in Guatemala.

Incumbents

• President: Alejandro Giammattei (until 15 January); Bernardo Arévalo onwards
• Vice-President: Guillermo Castillo Reyes (until 15 January); Karin Herrera onwards

Events

January

• 11 January: 2023 Guatemalan general election:
  • Former Minister of the Interior Napoleón Barrientos is arrested for failing to comply with his duties for not using force to evict the blockades and demonstrations that occurred in October, which called for the resignation of Attorney General María Consuelo Porras.^[1]
  • The Public Ministry orders the arrest of four magistrates of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal who have been living in exile since losing their immunity in November.^[2]
  • Vice President-elect Karin Herrera presents a legal appeal before the Constitutional Court due to the risk of a possible arrest warrant against her, thereby violating her immunity.^[3]
• 14 January: Bernardo Arévalo is inaugurated as President of Guatemala.^[4]

February

• 2 February: The European Council applies sanctions to Attorney General of Guatemala María Consuelo Porras and three of her collaborators, as well as a judge, for undermining democracy, the rule of law and the transfer of power.^[5]

April

• 10 April: President Arévalo declares a state of national disaster due to 44 wildfires raging across the country.^[6]

May

• 12 May: A magnitude 6.4 earthquake strikes along the Guatemala-Mexico border, causing damage in Quetzaltenango and San Marcos Departments.^[7]

June

• 17 June: Three people are killed during floods in Jalpatagua.^[8]

July

• 12 July: President Arévalo makes an official apology on behalf of the Guatemalan state to victims of widespread illegal adoptions during the 1990s and 2000s.^[9]
• 24 July: Authorities announce the arrival of 600 refugees from Mexico fleeing drug-related violence in Chiapas.^[10]
• 29 July: The Guatemalan government grants temporary resident permits to over 200 Mexicans, mostly children, on humanitarian grounds as they escape drug violence.^[11]

August

• 13 August: Ligia Hernández, the head of the national victims’ advocacy agency, is arrested on charges of failing to provide financial disclosures during a previous political campaign.^[12]
• 21 August: Seven people are arrested following police raids in three departments on suspicion of human trafficking and involvement in the 2022 San Antonio migrant deaths in Texas.^[13]

September

• 24 September: President Arévalo announces plans to deploy 150 military police officers to Haiti to help in operations against the country's gang war.^[14]

October

• 18 October: Investigative journalist José Rubén Zamora, whose imprisonment for money laundering was criticized by human rights groups as politically motivated, is moved to house arrest following a court order.^[15] The decision is overturned on 15 November following an appeal.^[16]

November

• 14 November : The Inter-American Court of Human Rights rules that the Guatemalan government was responsible for the forced disappearance of four Indigenous human rights activists in 1989 that was blamed on the Guatemalan Army.^[17]

Holidays

^[18]

• 1 January – New Year's Day
• 28 –30 March – Holy Week
• 1 May – Labour Day
• 1 July – Army Day
• 15 September – Independence Day
• 20 October – Guatemalan Revolution
• 1 November – All Saints' Day
• 25 December – Christmas Day

Deaths

• 18 January: Silent Servant, 46, Guatemalan-born American techno DJ and producer.^[19]
• 18 May: Francisco Villagrán de León, 70, diplomat, academic and presidential advisor, ambassador to the United States (2008–2011, 2012–2013)^[20]
• 21 September: Raquel Blandón, 81, politician and lawyer, first lady (1986–1991)^[21]

External links

• Online calendar

Notes and References

1. Web site: Guatemala arrests ex-minister who resigned rather than use force against protesters . 2024-01-12 . ABC News . en.
2. Web site: 2024-01-11 . Giran órdenes de captura contra cuatro magistrados titulares del TSE por la compra del sistema Trep . 2024-01-12 . es-GT.
3. Web site: 2024-01-11 . CC ampara a la vicepresidenta electa y frena posible orden de captura en su contra . 2024-01-12 . es-GT.
4. Web site: 15 January 2024 . Bernardo Arévalo sworn in as Guatemala's president despite months of efforts to derail inauguration . Associated Press . 14 August 2024 . en.
5. Web site: 2024-02-02 . La UE sanciona Consuelo Porras y personal del MP por frenar la presidencia de Arévalo . 2024-02-02 . es-GT.
6. Web site: 11 April 2024 . Guatemala's president issues natural disaster declaration as 44 forest fires rage on . Associated Press . 11 April 2024 . en.
7. Web site: 12 May 2024 . A magnitude 6.4 earthquake strikes wakes people on the Mexico-Guatemala border . Associated Press . 12 May 2024 . en.
8. Web site: 19 June 2024 . Deaths, drownings and destruction as heavy rains move through Central America. 3 killed in Guatemala . Associated Press . 19 June 2024 . en.
9. Web site: 13 July 2024 . Guatemala apologizes to family torn apart by forced adoption . France 24 . 13 July 2024 . en.
10. Web site: 25 July 2024 . Authorities say 600 Mexicans have crossed into Guatemala to escape drug cartel violence . Associated Press . 27 July 2024 . en.
11. Web site: 2024-07-29 . Guatemala grants temporary residency to Mexican minors who fled violence . 2024-07-30 . AP News . en.
12. Web site: 14 August 2024 . Guatemala police arrest member of President Bernardo Arévalo's administration . 14 August 2024 . AP News . en.
13. Web site: 22 August 2024 . Guatemalan police arrest 7 accused of trafficking the 53 migrants who asphyxiated in Texas in 2022 . 22 August 2024 . AP News . en.
14. Web site: 25 September 2024 . Guatemala to send 150 military police officers to help fight gangs in Haiti . 25 September 2024 . AP News . en.
15. Web site: 2024-10-19 . Guatemalan journalist receives house arrest after two years behind bars . 2024-10-19 . Al Jazeera . en.
16. Web site: 2024-11-16 . Guatemalan court overturns order that freed journalist José Rubén Zamora, orders his return to jail . 2024-11-16 . Associated Press . en.
17. Web site: 2024-11-15 . Regional court blames Guatemala for the disappearance of 4 human rights activists in 1989 . 2024-11-15 . Associated Press . en.
18. Web site: Guatemala Public Holidays 2024. 19 November 2023 . Public Holidays Global.
19. Web site: X . Instagram . Email . Facebook . 2024-01-21 . Soft Moon musician Luis Vasquez, DJ Juan Mendez found dead in downtown L.A. loft . 2024-10-16 . Los Angeles Times . en-US.
20. Web site: Rodríguez . Lincy . 2024-05-18 . Fallece ex Embajador Francisco Villagrán de León: Guatemala pierde a uno de sus más brillantes diplomáticos - Agencia Guatemalteca de Noticias . 2024-10-16 . es.
21. News: 2024-09-21 . Fallece la activista y política Raquel Blandón Sandoval . 2024-10-16 . Prensa Libre . es-LA.