Esquipulas II

Central American peace plan

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June 26, 2026

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Esquipulas II, also known as the Central American peace plan, was proposed by President Óscar Arias Sánchez of Costa Rica and accepted by all five Central American presidents in Esquipulas, Guatemala, in 1987. The plan aimed to end regional conflicts by calling for governments to negotiate with local insurgents and establish policies of national reconciliation and democracy.12

This initiative put pressure on governments, including Guatemala's, to engage in dialogue rather than repression. The efforts of figures like Rigoberta Menchú, who advocated for reconciliation and Indigenous rights, also played a significant role in pushing for peace. Ultimately, the plan contributed to ending Guatemala's 36-year civil war in 1996.12

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Central America
Modern Central America (c. 1945 to the present)
…American peace plan, also called Esquipulas II, instigated by Pres. Oscar Arias Sánchez of Costa Rica. The last included plans for a Central American national parliament along lines similar to those that established the European Union. While state sovereignty and the strength of the individual city-state elites remain strongly rooted…
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…American peace plan, also called Esquipulas II, instigated by Pres. Oscar Arias Sánchez of Costa Rica. The last included plans for a Central American national parliament along lines similar to those that established the European Union. While state sovereignty and the strength of the individual city-state elites remain strongly rooted…
Read More