-
Tensions Mount
Tensions flare in Honduras when President Manuel Zelaya leads supporters to air force headquarters to seize ballots needed for a June 28 referendum deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Critics say the referendum would have opened the door to a constitutional reform allowing presidential reelection. -
Zelaya Overthrown
Early in the morning, Honduran military arrive at Zelaya’s home and force the pajamaed leader into exile on a flight bound for Costa Rica. The head of Honduras Congress, Roberto Micheletti, is sworn in as interim head of state. U.S. President Barack Obama, Latin American leaders, and multilateral agencies condemn the move as a coup and call for Zelaya’s reinstatement. -
OAS Calls for Zelaya's Reinstatement
The Organization of American States (OAS) approves a resolution calling for Zelaya’s reinstatement as president. -
Zelaya Attempts Return
After the interim government refuses OAS Secretary-General José Miguel Insulza’s attempts to negotiate Zelaya’s return, the agency suspends Honduras’ membership. On the same day, Zelaya departs from Washington in a Venezuelan aircraft to try to reenter Honduras. De facto leaders order military troops to block the Tegucigalpa runway -
First Round of Talks Underway
July 9, 2009: Negotiations begin in Costa Rica. Zelaya says he expects the de facto government to step down while Micheletti says he is open to negotiation but not Zelaya’s return to power. The talks end without agreement the following day. -
Arias Tapped to Mediate
Costa Rican President Óscar Arias takes on the role of mediating the political crisis in Honduras. He joins U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington at a press conference to announce the news. -
EU Halts Aid
The European Union suspends over $90 million in aid to Honduras after talks to reinstate Zelaya fail. -
Senator Freezes State Dept Confirmations
U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee member James DeMint (R-SC) charges the Obama administration with mishandling the Honduras crisis and places holds on the confirmations of two top State Department—Arturo Valenzuela for assistant secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, and Shannon’s for ambassador to Brazil. -
San Jose Accord Proposed
President Óscar Arias presents a 12-point solution known as the San José Accord. The proposal outlines a path for Zelaya’s return to office, but with limited powers and as part of a coalition government. It also prevents him from moving forward with a constitutional reform that could enable his presidential reelection. -
Zelaya Dips Toe Across Border
Zelaya briefly crosses from Nicaragua into Honduras, sparking a media frenzy at the border. He repeats the action the next day, then sets up camp on the Nicaraguan side where hundreds of supporters join him. Micheletti calls the stunt “ill-conceived and silly.” With a curfew imposed in the border area, marchers clash with military forces and the body of one Zelaya supporter is discovered showing signs of torture. -
UNASUR Rejects Nov 29 Elections
During a Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) summit in Quito, Ecuador, leaders announce that they will not recognize any elections held by the de facto government. -
OAS Delegations Attempts Mediation
An OAS delegation heads to Honduras to urge approval of the San Jose Accord. The delegation meets with representatives of the Zelaya administration, legislators, the Supreme Court, the presidential candidates, and Micheletti. Still, they delegation fails to win backing for the deal. -
U.S. Suspends Aid
The United States freezes $30 million in non-humanitarian aid to Honduras as a rebuke for the interim government’s refusal to adopt the San Jose Accord. The State Department also says Washington will not recognize elections carried out by the Micheletti government. -
Marches Mark Independence Day
Supporters for each side take to the streets to mark Independence Day, demonstrating the polarization caused by the crisis. -
Zelaya Returns, Takes Refuge in Embassy
Zelaya sneaks into Honduras and takes refuge in the Brazilian Embassy in Tegucigalpa, saying he traveled over "rivers and mountains” to reach the capital. Micheletti argues that the move changes nothing and his government imposes a curfew. -
Micheletti Restricts Press Freedom
To put a damper on protests urged by Zelaya, the Micheletti government announces a decree restricting media and banning unauthorized public gatherings. The following day, Congress says it will not support the decree, reflecting rifts within the governing coalition and prompting Micheletti to promise that an end to the decree. -
OAS Convenes More Talks
An OAS delegation including officials from the United States, OAS, Canada, Spain, and 10 Latin American countries convenes in Honduras to discuss the ongoing political crisis. A new round of talks begin called the Guaymuras Dialogue. -
Honduras Qualifies for World Cup
Negotiators for both sides have finally begun meeting face-to-face, but talks appear to stall again when one of Micheletti’s mediators rejects claims by Zelaya’s side that they are on the verge of a deal. That night, Honduras beats El Salvador in a World Cup Qualifying soccer match, marking its first qualification since 1982. Micheletti declares the next day a holiday. -
Human Rights Investigations Underway
The UN dispatches an OAS delegation to Honduras on a three-week visit to look into human rights abuses since the June 28 coup. -
Washington Brokers Deal
After U.S. Asst. Sec. of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Tom Shannon leads a delegation to Honduras, the two sides sign an accord to create a power-sharing government. The Guaymuras Accord allows the Honduran Congress to vote on Zelaya’s return to power. -
Zelaya: The Deal is "Dead"
The deposed leader calls the latest accord “dead” when Congress takes no action on the question of his reinstatement and Micheletti forms a new government. The Obama administration indicates it will recognize the November 29 elections on the basis of the accord’s signature regardless of whether Zelaya is restored. Senator DeMint lifts holds on confirmations of Valenzuela and Shannon. -
Zelaya Pens Letter to Obama
Zelaya pens a letter to U.S. President Barack Obama saying he "will not accept any accord of returning to the presidency" and that to do so would validate the coup. -
Pepe Lobo Wins Election
The National Party's Porfirio "Pepe" Lobo wins the controversial elections, winning roughly 56 percent of the vote and coming out well ahead of Liberal Party candidate Elvin Santos. -
Congress to Decide on Zelaya
Ahead of the November 29 election, Honduras' National Congress set the date of December 2 to vote on whether the deposed leader should be restored to his post. When the date rolls around, lawmakers vote 111 to 14 against Zelaya's reinstatement.
