GUATEMALA CITY.- Bernardo Arévalo, president of Guatemala, admitted this Friday the difficult reality faced by some communities in the capital, describing them as “prisoners” of the gangs that operate in the country. His comments come in response to a UN call to address the recruitment of minors by these gangs.
Arévalo highlighted the abandonment by both the authorities and the communities themselves in these affected areas, where the presence of gangs is dominant and limits the freedom of residents. In a press conference, he stressed the need for both preventive and security actions to counter the criminal influence of gangs, also known as “maras”, and strengthen the state presence in these localities.
In line with the UN call, the Guatemalan government is developing strategies to offer life alternatives to youth, with the aim of preventing them from falling into the clutches of these criminal organizations.
Gangs, such as Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha, have strong territorial control where they impose extortion on merchants and transporters, with lethal consequences for those who refuse to pay.
Criminal violence in Guatemala has reached worrying levels, with a high number of homicides in 2023, much of it attributed to drug trafficking and gang activities. In this context, the government faces the challenge of guaranteeing the security of its citizens and offering long-term solutions to break the cycle of violence and marginalization that affects these communities.
Source: With information from AFP
