President Nayib Bukele has responded to recent X post on El Salvador’s safety, highlighting the nation’s remarkable transformation from the most dangerous country in the Western Hemisphere to one of the safest in 2024. Referring to a thread on social media, Bukele provided context and clarification regarding El Salvador’s dramatic decline in homicide rates, contrasting the nation’s current safety with that of Canada.
In 2015, El Salvador had the highest homicide rate in the region, but today, it boasts the lowest homicide rate in its history. The rise of violent gangs, such as Barrio 18 and MS-13, which originated in the 1980s and expanded through extortion and terror, had long plagued the country. These criminal organizations controlled vast territories, extorted businesses, and carried out murders with impunity.
However, Bukele’s leadership turned the tide. In March 2022, following a wave of violent killings, the president implemented a 30-day “state of exception,” granting authorities broad powers to arrest suspected gang members without warrants. This aggressive strategy resulted in more than 1,000 arrests per day, and by the end of 2022, homicides had decreased by 50%. In 2023, the reduction exceeded 70%, a significant drop that helped restore peace to many communities.
Despite facing criticism from human rights groups, who accused Bukele of overreach, the president defended his approach. He emphasized the responsibility of the government to protect the public, stating that Salvadorans should not be expected to fund the lavish living conditions of criminals in prisons, especially when so many struggle to afford basic meals.
El Salvador’s progress under Bukele challenges the status quo, posing a question to the rest of the world: If El Salvador, a country with limited resources, can effectively combat crime and violence, why can’t wealthier nations do the same? As Bukele’s success continues to grow, his critics are increasingly overshadowed by the undeniable results of his policies: safer streets, a thriving economy, and widespread approval from the Salvadoran people.
With a 90% approval rating and the nation now considered safer than Canada, Bukele’s approach has shown that it is possible to eradicate violence in just a few years. As he puts it, “Everything in life has a cost — and the cost of being called authoritarian is too small to worry about.” His leadership offers a powerful lesson for other nations grappling with crime and violence.