"Libre, Soberana e Independiente" "Free, Sovereign and Independent" | |||||
| Capital | San Salvador | ||||
| Largest city | San Salvador | ||||
| Language | Spanish | ||||
| Head of State | Eduardo d’Aubuisson | ||||
| Head of the military | Eduardo d’Aubuisson | ||||
| Area | 21,040 km² | ||||
| Population | 6,200,000 | ||||
| Independence | 1842 | ||||
| Currency | Colón | ||||
El Salvador (Spanish: República de El Salvador, literally meaning "Republic of the Savior") is the smallest and also the most densely populated country in Central America. It borders the Pacific Ocean between Guatemala and Honduras. It lies on the Gulf of Fonseca, as do Honduras and Nicaragua further south. It has a population of approximately 6.2 million people as of 2009. The capital city of San Salvador is the largest city of the republic.
History[]
Civil War (1980-1989)[]
El Salvador was a country gripped by civil war at the time when Doomsday occurred. A new constitution was drafted in 1983, but it did little to stop the civil rights infringements that were occurring all over the country, as right wing and left wing extremists were causing death and destruction all over the country.
Having lost any support he might have gotten from the United States, José Napoleón Duarte lost the presidential elections to Army Major Roberto d'Aubuisson, of the Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA), becoming the first, freely-elected President of El Salvador in more than fifty years. Being backed by the army and right wingers and fearful of a socialist takeover, d’Aubuisson quickly started to crush his political opponents, culminating in 1989 with the last guerrilla forces surrendering to the government. D'Aubuisson won a second term that year.
New challenges[]
After having won the bloody civil war, more and more power was given to the military, which effectively rendered the Legislative Assembly powerless. All power was firmly in d’Aubuisson's hands. However, the situation in the country did improve during this period, as connections with other non-communist South American states were strong and land was given to former guerrillas who had surrendered, easing tensions in the country.
Roberto D’Aubuisson rule ended in 1992, when he died of esophageal cancer. A military junta seized power after his death, abolishing the office of President, while the junta was given all power. Within the military junta, one of the most prominent members quickly became Eduardo D’Aubuisson, the son of Roberto, who defeated opposition within the military to him holding apsolute power within the military and government.
Throughout his rule, he has employed ruthless methods when dealing with any who oppose him and his rule has been marked by connections to drug cartels in Colombia and Mexico, although no conclusive evidence has been found.
Current situation[]
D’Aubuisson has taken a strongly pro-ANZC stance, as the SAC and countries of the Socialist bloc despise the military regime. The ANZC has neither denounced, nor supported the current government, however, there has been suspicion that the ANZC has turned a blind eye to the drug dealings of the government and an embassy has been built in San Salvador in 2003. Some suspect that talks on opening an ANZC naval base are underway, which is currently denied by both parties.
Economy[]
Most of El Salvador's economy has been hampered by natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes, but El Salvador currently has a steadily growing economy. In the past the country produced gold and silver. As many other former colonies, for many years El Salvador was considered a mono-export economy (an economy that depended heavily on one type of export). For many decades, coffee was one of the few sources of foreign currency in the Salvadoran economy. The Salvadoran Civil War in the 1980s and the fall of international coffee prices following Doomsday pressured the Salvadoran government to diversify the economy.
In 2005 the number of people living in extreme poverty in El Salvador was 37%. While Salvadoran education levels have gone up, wage expectations have risen faster than either skills or productivity. For example, some Salvadorans are no longer willing to take jobs that pay them less than what they receive monthly from family members abroad. This has led to an influx of Hondurans and Nicaraguans who are willing to work for the prevailing wage. Also, the local propensity for consumption over investment has increased.
Main agricultural products of El Salvador include coffee, sugar, livestock, corn, poultry, and sorghum, while the industry produces textiles and apparel, medicines, food and beverage processing, clothing, chemical products, petroleum products, electronics and call centers.
Military[]
The Armed Forces of El Salvador, in Spanish Fuerza Armada de El Salvador is the official name of the combined armed forces of El Salvador. It has been in existence since breaking up from the United Provinces of Central America in 1840. It consists of the Army, Air Force and Navy, while the number of active personnel is around 35,000.
The military's doctrine of strict professionalism and its presence in political affairs leave it one of the most respected institutions in El Salvador. Currently, the military budget accounts for around 15% of El Salvador's GDP.
International Relations[]
El Salvador is a member of the League of Nations. The government of El Salvador has strived to become a strong ally of the ANZC in the region, since SAC members and its ally Honduras detest its alleged drug dealings in the region. It openly denounces any socialist rhetoric from neighbouring countries in Central America and the Caribbean. Consequently, there are no ties between the country and the Siberian-led Socialist bloc.
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