President Bernardo Arévalo has declared a nationwide state of emergency for 30 days after a wave of coordinated attacks by criminal gangs left at least nine police officers dead and several others critically injured.
The emergency decree, known locally as a "state of siege," was announced on Sunday and published in the official gazette on Monday. The move grants the government expanded powers to use all state resources, including the military, to combat what officials have labeled "terrorist actions" by organized crime groups.
A Weekend of Violence and Retaliation The crisis began on Saturday, January 17, when members of the notorious Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gangs staged coordinated riots across three major prisons. Inmates took more than 40 people hostage, including prison guards and medical staff, demanding the restoration of privileges for incarcerated gang leaders such as Aldo Duppie, alias "El Lobo" (The Wolf).
Security forces successfully retook control of the prisons and freed all hostages on Sunday. However, the victory was followed by a series of lethal retaliatory attacks on police patrols in and around the capital. Interior Minister Marco Antonio Villeda confirmed that these attacks were direct reprisals for the government’s refusal to negotiate with the gangs.
Drastic Security Measures Under the 30-day emergency order, several constitutional rights have been suspended:
Freedom of Assembly: Public gatherings are restricted.
Arrest Powers: Security forces may detain and interrogate individuals without a court order.
Movement Restrictions: Authorities can prohibit vehicle movement in specific zones and conduct searches without warrants.
"These murders were carried out with the intention of terrorizing our security forces and the population," President Arévalo said in a televised address. "But they will fail. We will not retreat, and we will not negotiate with terrorists."
National Impact The government has declared three days of national mourning for the fallen officers. In response to the instability, the Ministry of Education suspended classes nationwide on Monday, while the US Embassy in Guatemala City briefly issued a "shelter-in-place" order for its personnel.
The state of emergency now awaits formal approval by Guatemala's Congress, though it took effect immediately upon the President's decree.
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