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Latin America and Caribbean
After years of military dictatorship, free presidential elections took place in Honduras in 1981. The country underwent a slow process of democratisation. The two major parties took turns at exercising government responsibility, and political conditions were considered relatively stable.
In June 2009, a coup took place and President Manuel Zelaya, who had been in office since 2006, was arrested by the army and taken to Costa Rica against his will. The National Congress then installed Roberto Micheletti, who at the time was Parliamentary President, as Zelaya's successor. The new government was not recognised internationally. During the political crisis, numerous human rights violations were committed.
The presidential elections held in November 2009 were disputed by the international community. They were won by Porfirio Lobo Sosa, a conservative entrepreneur. He assumed office in January 2010. Lobo Sosa has stated that he wants to foster national reconciliation and lead his country back to democracy.
Poverty and unemployment
Honduras is one of the poorest countries in Latin America. More than half of its inhabitants are living below the national poverty line; some 18 per cent are considered extremely poor. The country's industrial sector is underdeveloped, and international competitiveness is limited. High population growth, great social disparity, unemployment, clientelism and corruption as well as increasing crime are posing obstacles to development.
Honduras lies in the tropical Caribbean hurricane zone. The shoots of economic recovery which emerged in the early 1990s were destroyed by Hurricane Mitch in October 1998. More than 7,000 people died, 1.4 million people lost their homes, and 60 per cent of the road network and 70 per cent of coffee and banana plantations – which produce Honduras' main export products – were destroyed. The donor community put together a reconstruction plan to be implemented by 2015. Germany, too, contributed to reconstruction assistance.
Although the Honduran economy has largely recovered from the impacts of the hurricane, it is now facing the fallout from the global economic crisis. This has further exacerbated poverty in Honduras.
Cooperation between Honduras and Germany
Germany and Honduras have engaged in development cooperation for 50 years now. Due to its reliability and visibility, Germany's support enjoys great respect in Honduras.
Following the 2009 coup, the German government temporarily suspended its direct cooperation with the Honduran government. It only continued its humanitarian assistance and activities directly benefiting the population. When President Porfirio Lobo Sosa assumed office in January 2010, normal relations were resumed. In January 2011, the two countries held government negotiations on the form and scope of future development cooperation. German support for Honduras focuses on the sectors of education and environmental and resource protection.
German Embassy
German Embassy in Honduras
Avenida República Dominicana 925
Callejón Siria
Colonia Lomas del Guijarro
Apartado Postal 3145
Tegucigalpa, M.D.C.
Phone: +504 / 22 32 31 61
Fax: +504 / 22 39 90 18
