In a dramatic turn of events, the Guatemalan government has declared a 30-day nationwide state of emergency following a violent clash between police and criminal gangs that left eight officers dead. The incident occurred in the capital, Guatemala City, and surrounding areas, just a day after gang-affiliated inmates took 46 people hostage in three prisons across the country.
According to President Bernardo Arévalo, the authorities have now regained control of all three prisons. However, the situation remains tense, with the interior minister, Marco Antonio Villeda, describing the killings of the police officers as an act of “terrorism” in response to the government’s actions against the gangs.
The state of emergency, which must be approved by the opposition-controlled Congress, suspends the right of assembly and allows individuals to be arrested and interrogated without a court order. This move is aimed at combating the widespread criminal violence that has plagued the Central American nation.
The US embassy in Guatemala has advised its personnel to shelter in place and avoid crowds, while the government has announced the closure of schools on Monday. The defence minister, Henry Saenz, has stated that the army will remain on the streets to continue “dismantling” the criminal groups.
The deadly clash comes amid Guatemala’s ongoing struggle with gang-related violence, with the country’s homicide rate in 2025 standing at 16.1 per 100,000 inhabitants, more than double the global average. The powerful Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gangs are blamed for much of the drug trafficking and criminal activity in the region.
As the nation grapples with this crisis, the opposition leader, Luís Contreras, who is the president of Congress, has called for unity to face “one of the most painful and challenging moments” in the country’s history. The government’s swift action to regain control of the prisons and the declaration of a state of emergency suggest a determination to confront the deeply-rooted gang problem that continues to threaten the stability and security of Guatemala.