How Nayib Bukele Defeated Gangs in El Salvador

El Salvador's Crisis of Gang Violence

• ⚠️ In 2015, El Salvador had the highest homicide rate globally, with gangs like Mara Salvatrucha (MS13) and Barrio 18 controlling vast territories.
• 💡 Gangs originated from Salvadoran migrants in Los Angeles and grew in El Salvador due to weak state institutions and a lack of control.
• 💰 They engaged in extortion, drug trafficking, prostitution, and even controlled legal businesses, while previous "Mano Dura" policies failed and allowed gangs to organize from prisons.

Bukele's Rise and Initial Reforms

• 🚀 Nayib Bukele entered politics as mayor, gaining recognition for public works and security improvements in Nuevo Cuscatlán and San Salvador.
• 🗳️ He criticized traditional parties, used social media for campaigns, and won the 2019 presidential election, ending decades of bipartisanship.
• ✅ His initial focus was on a structured plan to combat crime, including virtual security cordons and restoring state control over taxation, justice, and force.

The Territorial Control Plan & Confrontation

• 🛡️ Bukele launched the Territorial Control Plan (TCP), deploying military and police to recover gang-controlled streets and declaring states of emergency in prisons.
• 💸 Funding for modernizing security forces was blocked by the Legislative Assembly, leading to a tense confrontation where Bukele entered parliament with soldiers.
• ⚖️ After gaining a legislative majority in 2021, Bukele replaced Supreme Court judges to consolidate power and execute his security agenda without institutional brakes.

Regime of Exception and Mega-Prison

• 🚨 A surge in violence in March 2022 (62 homicides in one day) prompted the Regime of Exception, suspending constitutional rights like freedom of association and due process.
• ⛓️ This allowed mass arrests without warrants and led to harsh prison conditions (reduced food, no sunlight, no mattresses) and increased sentences for gang members.
• 🏢 The CECOT mega-prison was built to house over 40,000 arrested gang members, featuring maximum security and no family visits, drawing international human rights criticism.

Eradicating Gangs and Future Plans

• 📈 By 2023, El Salvador transformed from the most dangerous country to the safest in Latin America, with a dramatic reduction in homicides.
• 🤝 The final phase of the TCP, Integration, focuses on social reintegration and preventing violence through education, employment, and cultural activities.
• 🎯 Bukele was reelected in 2024 and announced a new "war on corruption," planning a "CECOC" prison for corrupt officials and making corruption offenses non-prescribing.