Honduran President names new defence minister after nephew's exit amid drug scandal: Video
Honduran President Xiomara Castro has appointed Rixi Moncada Godoy as the new Defence Minister following the resignation of her nephew, José Manuel Zelaya.
Zelaya's departure on August 31 came shortly after his father, Congressman Carlos Zelaya, resigned amid allegations of links to drug trafficking.
Carlos Zelaya, who is also the brother of former President Manuel Zelaya, President Castro’s husband, stepped down to face an investigation into these accusations.
The former Defence Minister, José Manuel Zelaya, took to X (formerly Twitter) to explain his decision: "So that there can be a free investigation, I have submitted my resignation as Minister of Defence to the President, highlighting the integrity and honour of my Father who has voluntarily appeared before the MP to testify about a video of a meeting 11 years ago (2013), with people who were accused of drug trafficking. We will continue to fight for the truth."
On September 1, President Castro officially announced the appointment of Rixi Moncada Godoy, a lawyer and former Minister of Finance. "The resignation of the Secretary of Defence, who has effectively carried out his duties, has been accepted,” President Castro stated.
“I want to announce the appointment of lawyer Rixi Moncada Godoy to the position of Secretary of Defence, so she can raise our flag high," she continued.
This appointment comes in the wake of President Castro's controversial decision to terminate an extradition treaty with the United States, a legal framework previously used to imprison drug traffickers.
US Ambassador to Honduras, Laura Dogu, present at Rixi Moncada Godoy’s announcement, emphasised the enduring ties between the two nations: “We must acknowledge that there are almost 2 million Hondurans living in the United States and there are many Americans here in that country. The countries are connected, our ties are deep, and we will maintain that bond forever," she is quoted by the AFP.
Rixi Moncada Godoy, who served as Honduras' Minister of Finance from January 2022 to January 2024, steps into her new role as Defence Minister with immediate effect.
