January 18th, 2026 - Guatemala Imposes State of Emergency Amid Rising Gang Violence

The Guatemalan government declared a state of emergency on Sunday, aiming to tackle the rising gang violence that has plagued the country in recent days. This decision comes in response to a series of violent incidents, including uprisings at prisons and the tragic killing of eight police officers. The state of emergency will last for 30 days, granting the national police and army enhanced powers to take action against gangs and organized crime, according to President Bernardo Arévalo.

During a news conference, President Arévalo emphasized that the emergency measures would not significantly affect the daily lives of most Guatemalans. However, as a preventive measure, schools were suspended on Monday to ensure safety. The decision to implement the state of emergency comes after inmates in three prisons across the country took dozens of prison guards hostage on Saturday. The Ministry of the Interior reported that the uprisings were coordinated and were a direct response to the authorities’ withdrawal of privileges from leaders of criminal organizations.

By Sunday, the police had regained control of the prisons, and the hostages were freed. Despite this success, the situation took a darker turn on Sunday when eight police officers were killed, with authorities blaming the attacks on gangs in retaliation for the prison recapture. President Arévalo has pledged to cooperate with U.S. agencies, such as the FBI, to combat the drug cartels that he claims control the nation’s prisons and have contributed to the violent unrest.

However, President Arévalo’s efforts to address corruption and dismantle drug cartels have faced significant challenges. His election as a moderate in 2023 was met with protests, and his proposed reforms have been met with resistance from the conservative establishment. In 2024, the United States imposed a travel ban on former President Alejandro Giammattei, accusing him of taking bribes. President Arévalo has been pushing for a complete overhaul of the country’s prison system, where gang leaders are believed to operate with impunity due to rampant corruption.

In his recent remarks, Arévalo described the prison uprisings as an attempt by gangs to force the government to relent on its tough stance. He accused the criminals of terrorizing the security forces and the general population to intimidate the government. The violent acts were meant to pressure the state into restoring the privileges that have long been granted to criminal organizations operating within the prison system.

The police have specifically pointed to the Barrio 18 gang, a notorious group linked to organized crime and violence across Central America, as responsible for some of the attacks on law enforcement officers. This gang was designated a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration in late September, reflecting the growing international recognition of the threats posed by such groups in the region.

Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster) - Elicit (verb, ih-LISS-it) - Elicit is a formal word meaning “to get (a response, information, etc.) from someone.”

Example: The announcement of the final amount raised by the charity walk elicited cheers from the crowd.

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