January 13: Mexico
The Mexican authorities report that more than 34,500 people have died in violence since the government launched its campaign against the drug cartels in December 2006. In 2010 alone, more than 15,000 people were killed. Ninety percent of these deaths were gang members. Most of the violence took place in Mexico’s three northern states of Chihuahua, Tamaulipas, and Sinaloa.
April 21: Haiti
Haiti officially declares that Michel Martelly, a popular singer, has won the March presidential election defeating former first lady Mirlande Manigat in the run off vote. Martelly has won 67.6 percent of the vote. The election has been marred by weeks of violent protests by Manigat’s supporters making accusations of fraud.
May 3: Honduras
Honduras drops corruption charges against former President Manuel Zelaya who was deposed and sent into exile in June 2009. The repeal paves the way for Zelaya to come back to Honduras. It also fulfills a condition for Honduras to be readmitted to the Organization of American States (OAS).
July 7: Mexico
The United States agrees to give trucks from Mexico full access to its roads and highways settling a 17-year old dispute. Mexico was granted this right by the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), but the U.S. restricted its access, citing concerns over Mexico being able to meet U.S. safety and environmental standards. In retaliation, Mexico imposed higher tariffs on many U.S. products, which, after reaching the deal, are to be lifted.
October 24: Argentina
Argentina’s president, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, wins a second term in a landslide victory. Fernandez benefited from strong economy and fragmented opposition. She also invested in many social programs, which boosted her popularity.
November 6: Nicaragua
Nicaragua’s president, Daniel Ortega of the governing Sandinista party, gathers 63 percent of the votes and wins another five-year term in office. The election has been marred by violence between Ortega’s supporters and opponents.
November 6: Guatemala
Voters in Guatemala elect former army general Otto Perez Molina of the right-wing Patriotic Party the country’s new president. Molina promises to tackle Guatemala’s two key issues: poverty and crime. The country serves as a transit place for drugs from South America to the United States.
December 2 — Latin America
A summit of a new Latin American bloc, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), takes place in Venezuela. CELAC, which does not include the United States and Canada, but includes Cuba, is meant to counter the U.S. influence in the region.