Aid to El Salvador

A peace agreement signed in January 1992 by the government of El Salvador and opposition forces halted 12 years of civil war. To support the peace process, the United States pledged $20 million to help establish a new police force and a police academy. This report discusses (1) whether the U.S. aid for the police development is consistent with the provisions of the peace agreement, (2) the progress made in establishing the police force and police academy, and (3) the financial status of the police development effort.

GAO found that: (1) the $20-million U.S. pledge will be used over a 2-year period to support the police development effort; (2) the U.S. assistance is being administered through the Department of Justice's International Criminal Investigation Training Assistance Program (ICITAP); (3) progress has been slow in the development of the National Civilian Police; (4) two problems that impede development of a professional police force are the current void in the command structure and El Salvador's decision to keep salaries for police officers low; (5) the National Civilian Police does not have headquarters offices, equipment, or facilities; (6) the new academy does not have suitable or permanent facilities; (7) the lack of operational plans and other information about the new police force could hamper the effectiveness of the training program at the new police academy; (8) El Salvador has not put a high priority on supporting the academy or the police force; (9) international donors have not responded to appeals for funding support; and (10) the police academy is expected to run out of operating funds in the near future.