Guatemala has recently been hit by a series of severe gang violence incidents, with at least 10 police officers killed in ongoing attacks targeting law enforcement. President Bernardo Arévalo swiftly declared a nationwide state of emergency lasting 30 days in response to the escalating violence. The parliament also voted in favor of the emergency measures on Monday night (January 19), officially putting them into effect.
According to reports from the Associated Press, the violence erupted last Saturday when three prisons experienced simultaneous riots, during which inmates seized control and held 46 prison guards hostage. Authorities suggested that the incidents were coordinated gang actions aimed at pressuring the government to grant special treatment to gang members and their leaders.
After security forces regained control of a high-security prison housing a gang leader on Sunday morning, retaliatory shootings against the police broke out in the capital and surrounding areas. Officials confirmed on Monday that another injured officer had succumbed to their wounds, raising the death toll to 10.
During a memorial service held at the Ministry of the Interior, President Arévalo paid his respects to the families of the fallen police officers, emphasizing that the nation would not forget the sacrifices made in the line of duty, and vowed to hold those responsible for the violence to account.
Under the state of emergency, authorities are permitted to make arrests of suspected gang members without judicial orders, restrict freedom of assembly and movement, and implement traffic controls and searches in specific areas, as outlined in the official announcement. The resolution was passed by the parliament with 149 votes in favor and 1 against.
Traffic in the capital significantly decreased on Monday, with many citizens staying indoors due to safety concerns. As a precautionary measure, all schools across the country were suspended for the day.
The U.S. Embassy in Guatemala briefly advised American personnel to shelter in place, later rescinding the order but urging them to remain vigilant. In a statement released on Monday, the embassy strongly condemned the attacks on law enforcement and expressed support for the Guatemalan security forces.
In October last year, the Guatemalan parliament passed a law designating gangs like “Barrio 18” and “Mara Salvatrucha” (MS-13) as terrorist organizations and increasing penalties, a move that was echoed by the U.S. government which designated these gangs as foreign terrorist organizations.