The Legislative Assembly has approved the 36th extension of El Salvador’s state of emergency, prolonging it until April 5, 2024. The measure aims to continue strengthening security and restoring peace in communities long affected by gang violence.
The extension was supported by deputies from Nuevas Ideas, PCN, and PDC, while Vamos party legislator Claudia Ortiz voted against it. ARENA deputies Marcela Villatoro and Francisco Lira abstained from voting.
Defense Minister René Francis Merino Monroy highlighted the ongoing impact of the special regime, stating that it has led to the arrest of nearly 87,000 gang members, along with the seizure of 4,565 firearms, 10,451 vehicles, and $4.8 million in cash.
Originally enacted on March 27, 2022, the state of emergency was implemented following a surge in gang-related murders across 12 of the country’s 14 departments. As part of President Nayib Bukele’s Territorial Control Plan (PCT), the policy has contributed to a drastic reduction in homicides, the reclaiming of gang-controlled territories, and significant progress in the fight against organized crime and drug trafficking.
Under Bukele’s administration, El Salvador has recorded 851 days with zero homicides, 738 of which occurred within the special regime framework. These security measures have earned global recognition, with El Salvador transitioning from being one of the world’s most violent countries to the safest nation in the Western Hemisphere.
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