Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo has declared a nationwide 30-day state of emergency following a dramatic surge in violence linked to coordinated prison riots and retaliatory attacks on security forces. The emergency decree, announced on January 18, aims to strengthen state powers to confront entrenched criminal gangs after unrest in multiple detention centers. Inmates gather at a security tower at the Renovacion 1 prison, as inmates at three Guatemalan prisons rioted on Saturday and took mostly prison guards hostage, The crisis began when inmates in three prisons across the country s

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo has declared a nationwide 30-day state of emergency following a dramatic surge in violence linked to coordinated prison riots and retaliatory attacks on security forces. The emergency decree, announced on January 18, aims to strengthen state powers to confront entrenched criminal gangs after unrest in multiple detention centers.

Inmates gather at a security tower at the Renovacion 1 prison, as inmates at three Guatemalan prisons rioted on Saturday and took mostly prison guards hostage,

The crisis began when inmates in three prisons across the country staged uprisings, taking dozens of guards and staff hostage amid protests against restrictions on gang leaders’ privileges. Security forces responded with rapid operations that regained control of all three facilities and freed the hostages.

Members of the Guatemalan Police Special Forces Division are deployed at the entrance to the men's Preventive Detention Center in Guatemala City, January 18, 2026

In apparent retaliation, gang members launched coordinated attacks on police officers in and around Guatemala City, killing at least seven officers and injuring others, according to official reports. Under the state of emergency, authorities are granted expanded powers, including the ability to detain and question suspects without prior court orders and restrict certain civil liberties. The government also declared three days of national mourning for the fallen officers.

President Bernardo Arévalo speaks during a national address on security measures after prison unrest triggered a state of emergency.

President Arévalo emphasized that the measure is necessary to protect public safety and assert state authority in the face of escalating gang violence.

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