Lina Ajoy assumes the General Secretariat of SICA with the challenge of transforming regional integration
Costa Rican diplomat Lina Ajoy took office this Tuesday as the new Secretary General of the Central American Integration System (SICA), marking a milestone by becoming the first woman to lead this organization. Her tenure, which will extend until the year 2030, comes at a crucial moment for the region, with the primary mission of restoring high-level political dialogue and rebuilding the necessary consensus among member states.
After more than a year of vacancy in the position, stemming from institutional controversies and diplomatic tensions, Ajoy’s arrival seeks to revitalize confidence in the system. The official highlighted that her election is a clear sign that the will for cooperation has begun to heal. “My intention is to regain the countries’ trust in their own system,” she stated during the official ceremony.
My intention is to restore the countries’ confidence in their own system, and I believe that this election is already a clear element that confidence has been restored; to re-establish high-level political dialogue and contribute with great respect to the building of consensus in our region.
Lina Ajoy, Secretary General of SICA
Priorities: Modernization and institutional efficiency
Ajoy is aware of the criticism SICA has received regarding its structure. For this reason, he has proposed a roadmap focused on technical and legal modernization. Among his key areas of work are:
- Administrative efficiency: Combat excessive bureaucracy, duplication of functions, and institutional dispersion.
- Technological innovation: Implement data-driven management and the use of artificial intelligence to optimize projects.
- Transparency: Guarantee an efficient and responsible use of regional resources.
- Democratic Security: Strengthen the directorate in charge of this area to face common challenges such as migration, climate change, and food security.
Background of the crisis
The position of the General Secretariat had been vacant since November 2023, when the Nicaraguan lawyer Werner Vargas submitted his resignation. During this period, the region experienced a cooling of relations due to disagreements over the candidacies for the position. Finally, in June 2026, the Heads of State and Government of the member countries reached an agreement and elected Ajoy, clearing the way for a new stage of management.
SICA, founded in 1991, brings together Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, and the Dominican Republic as full members, consolidating itself under Ajoy’s leadership as an indispensable platform for addressing challenges that, by their nature, do not recognize borders.
