Posted: Thursday, January 2, 2025. 9:44 am CST.
By Zoila Palma Gonzalez: El Salvador closed 2024 with a record low of 114 homicides, marking a continued decline in violence under President Nayib Bukele’s security measures, AP reports.
The country’s Attorney General announced the figure, with Bukele claiming it makes El Salvador the safest nation in the Western Hemisphere.
Despite some countries not reporting their 2024 homicide totals, Bukele’s government reported a rate of 1.9 homicides per 100,000 people—lower than any Latin American country in 2023.
The official count excludes five gang members killed in clashes with security forces.
El Salvador’s drop in crime follows a state of emergency declared in 2022 to combat gangs, which included suspending certain rights and expanding police powers.
Over 83,000 people have been arrested since the crackdown, though rights groups report 354 deaths in custody, and many detainees were held without due process.
While the emergency measures have sparked debate, they’ve contributed to a significant drop in crime, from 6,656 homicides in 2015 to 214 in 2023.
Bukele’s popularity remains high as many Salvadorans, once living in fear of gang violence, now feel safer walking their neighborhoods.
In February, Bukele won a second term after the Supreme Court ruled in his favor, despite a constitutional ban on consecutive reelection.
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The post International News: El Salvador ends 2024 with record low Homicides appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Thursday, January 2, 2025. 9:44 am CST. By Zoila Palma Gonzalez: El Salvador closed 2024 with a record low of 114 homicides, marking a continued
The post International News: El Salvador ends 2024 with record low Homicides appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
