Guatemala: Guatemala has been placed under a nationwide state of emergency following a wave of coordinated gang violence that left nine police officers dead, authorities confirmed on Monday. The move comes amid escalating unrest linked to criminal groups operating both inside and outside the country’s prison system.
President Bernardo Arévalo announced the extraordinary measures after attacks believed to be carried out by gang members intensified over the weekend. The violence was triggered on Saturday when inmates staged simultaneous uprisings at three prisons, briefly overpowering guards and taking 43 security personnel hostage.
Officials said the prison riots were orchestrated to pressure the government into granting special concessions to jailed gang leaders and their associates. After security forces managed to reassert control over one of the facilities early Sunday, retaliatory assaults were reported in Guatemala City, where police patrols were ambushed.
National Civil Police Director David Custodio Boteo said one critically injured officer succumbed to wounds early Monday, raising the death toll among law enforcement personnel to nine. Several others remain hospitalised in serious condition, with some suffering life-altering injuries, including amputations.
In response, the government enacted a 30-day state of emergency, granting expanded powers to security forces. The decree, published in the official gazette, temporarily limits fundamental freedoms such as public assembly, movement, and firearm possession. It also allows police to carry out arrests without warrants and enables authorities to restrict traffic in designated zones.
Although the emergency order still requires formal approval from parliament, it came into force on Sunday due to the severity of the situation. As a precautionary measure, schools nationwide were shut on Monday, while security patrols were increased in major cities and near correctional facilities.
The government has vowed to restore order and dismantle gang networks, as concerns grow over the influence of organised crime and its ability to challenge state authority through coordinated violence.
