• Guatemala's president has declared a 30-day state of emergency to combat gang violence.
• The emergency follows coordinated attacks that resulted in the deaths of nine police officers.
• Gang-affiliated inmates had taken hostages in three prisons, demanding better treatment.

Guatemala’s president, Bernardo Arevalo, declared a state of emergency on Sunday, January 19, following an escalation of violence attributed to gang members that left nine police officers dead. This declaration was made after gangs took hostages in three prisons across the country and retaliated against law enforcement as authorities regained control of these facilities. Arevalo emphasized that the attacks on police were part of a broader strategy to instill fear among the population. “These murders were carried out with the intention of terrorizing the security forces,” he stated during a nationwide address, according to Al Jazeera.

According to reports, the violence began when inmates, mainly affiliated with the Barrio 18 gang, took 46 guards hostage, leading to a series of coordinated riots. The prison disturbances were in protest against the authorities’ move to restrict the privileges of gang leaders, including Aldo Duppie, known as "El Lobo." After police launched a dawn raid to regain control of one prison, a subsequent wave of violent attacks on police occurred, resulting in at least nine fatalities and numerous injuries among officers, as detailed by South China Morning Post and Reuters.

The state of emergency, which restricts numerous civil liberties including the right of assembly, was immediately enacted but awaits congressional ratification. It allows the military and police to conduct operations without standard judicial oversight. Lawmakers, including opposition leader Luis Contreras, have agreed on the necessity of unity to address what he described as "one of the most painful and challenging moments" in Guatemala's recent history, according to Los Angeles Times.

In light of these events, the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala advised its staff to shelter in place, although this directive was lifted shortly after the escalating violence. The embassy continues to urge vigilance among travelers in the region, particularly in areas historically plagued by gang violence. The situation has prompted schools across the country to suspend classes as a precautionary measure, signaling the escalating national crisis and the precariousness of public safety in Guatemala, as reported by multiple sources including Al Jazeera, South China Morning Post, Reuters, and Los Angeles Times.