San Salvador, El Salvador — El Salvador’s government has announced what it calls a historic milestone in public security: a full year with no reported murders linked to gang violence, a dramatic turnaround for a country once plagued by some of the highest homicide rates in the world.
According to official figures released by the National Civil Police and government officials, the Central American nation has registered zero murders for 365 consecutive days, following a sweeping anti-gang crackdown known as the “State of Exception.” This extraordinary claim underscores the dramatic decline in violent crime since the government launched one of the most aggressive anti-crime campaigns in the region. Wikipedia+1
President Nayib Bukele, the architect of the crackdown, has repeatedly credited the strategy — which includes mass arrests, extended emergency powers, and an expanded prison system — with dismantling the operational capacity of violent criminal gangs like Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18. Officials report that tens of thousands of alleged gang members have been detained since the campaign began in 2022, contributing to a sustained drop in homicides. Wikipedia
A Record-Low Crime Narrative
El Salvador’s reported drop in homicides has been remarkable: from more than 2,000 murders annually in the early 2020s, the country has seen killings plummet to historic lows, with some months recording zero homicides at all. Government data has been the basis for these declarations, and officials argue the results demonstrate the effectiveness of a security strategy that has been hailed by supporters as transformative. Washington Examiner
“It’s been an unprecedented period of peace and security,” said a senior security official during a press briefing. “We have dismantled gang networks and ensured that violent crime no longer dictates the lives of Salvadorans.”
Rights Groups Sound Warnings
However, the declared milestone has not been universally embraced. Human rights organizations and independent journalists have raised alarm over the methods used to achieve these figures, highlighting concerns about the erosion of civil liberties, arbitrary detentions, and potential under-reporting of violent deaths.
Critics argue that while homicides may have fallen, fear, repression, and systemic rights abuses continue to shadow daily life in El Salvador. Reports from international rights groups describe widespread arrests without due process, overcrowded prisons, allegations of torture, and restrictions on free expression — particularly under a prolonged state of emergency that has no fixed end date. LatinAmerican Post+1
Independent media outlets, once the backbone of investigative reporting in the country, have been significantly stifled or forced to relocate amid political pressure, contributing to concerns over transparency and independent verification of government crime statistics. The Washington Post
Diverging Views on Security and Freedom
Supporters of the crackdown argue that the security gains have been tangible for ordinary Salvadorans, with more families feeling safe in their communities and public life returning to normal in once-dangerous areas. They point to tourism growth, increased business confidence, and improved public perception of safety as signs that the strategy, while tough, has delivered results.
Critics counter that the cost — in terms of human rights and democratic norms — may undermine long-term stability. They warn that without transparent, independent data and respect for legal protections, a year without reported murders could be as much about narrative control as it is about crime reduction.
What Comes Next?
As El Salvador navigates the balance between security and civil liberties, the world watches closely. The government’s claim of a murder-free year stands as a bold statement in a country once synonymous with gang violence. But the debate it has sparked — between order and rights, safety and freedom — is likely to shape the nation’s political and social landscape for years to come.
For continued coverage on this developing story, stay tuned to More24News.com
