Officials at Guatemala City’s La Aurora Airport are grappling with a fuel shortage, attributing it to ongoing protests.
As a result, they asked El Salvador to take in some flights that can’t land in Guatemala.
Francis Argueta, the head of Civil Aviation in Guatemala, talked about it on social media. He said the protests block fuel trucks from reaching the airport.
Argueta explained, “We’re out of fuel for airlines for the near future.” To solve this, he asked for help from aviation authorities in El Salvador.
They will now handle flights coming in and going out of Guatemala for refueling. Additionally, other Mexican airports like Mérida and Tapachula may help in the same way.
People in Guatemala are protesting for various reasons. One issue is the recent elections on June 25 and August 20.
The Movimiento Semilla party won these elections. But election materials got taken away. Many see this as an attempt to cancel the election results.
This would stop Bernardo Arévalo from becoming President on January 14. Legal authorities say they are just doing their job.
They are looking into issues with the election. But supporters of Arévalo and his party disagree. They say these actions are not fair.
Finally, on Monday, police in Guatemala City used tear gas to clear away protestors.
This action aimed to stop protests that have been disrupting normal life, including the functioning of the airport.
Background
The fuel shortage at La Aurora Airport adds to a list of challenges Guatemala is facing.
Protests have been a common form of civil dissent in the country’s history, often triggered by political or social issues.
The current demonstrations underscore deep-seated frustrations over governance and the electoral process.
The Movimiento Semilla party’s recent election victory adds a new layer to the unfolding political landscape.
It reflects a shift in public opinion, possibly seeking change from traditional political parties.