El Salvador continues to break records in public safety, reaching a historic milestone of 904 days without homicides during President Nayib Bukele’s administration. According to official data from the National Civil Police (PNC), the country has also achieved 106 days without any crimes against life from January 1 to May 8 of this year alone, a result attributed to the ongoing success of the government’s security policies known as the «Bukele Model.»
The state of emergency, implemented in March 2022 to combat gang violence, accounts for 790 of the 904 days without homicides, showcasing the sustained effectiveness of El Salvador’s aggressive crackdown on organized crime. In May alone, the country has reported eight consecutive days without murders, building on previous streaks: 25 days in April, 22 in March, 26 in February, and 25 in January.
These unprecedented results have placed El Salvador among global leaders in citizen security, drawing international interest in its strategy against organized crime and drug trafficking. Authorities have arrested over 86,000 gang members, many of whom were responsible for extortion, homicide, and terrorizing communities. The most dangerous criminals are now held in the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), where they await long prison sentences or life imprisonment.
As a result of this dramatic transformation, neighborhoods in high-crime cities like Soyapango, San Martín, Ilopango, Apopa, Mejicanos, and Panchimalco have been reclaimed by law enforcement. The resurgence of peace has spurred economic growth in these communities, with small businesses flourishing in areas once plagued by gang extortion.
This transformation has captured the attention of other nations grappling with similar security issues. In a recent interview with French magazine Le Grand Continent, Vice President Félix Ulloa confirmed that El Salvador is willing to share its public security model with interested governments and institutions. Ulloa also discussed the strategy, known as the Territorial Control Plan, with French Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau, emphasizing the country’s commitment to transparency and cooperation in the global fight against crime.
As El Salvador sheds its former image as one of the most violent nations in the world, the «Bukele Model» is being closely observed as a potential blueprint for countries seeking to restore law and order.
