El Salvador's Brutal War on Gangs: Victory or Human Rights Crisis?

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Video originally published on December 16, 2023.

Imagine a country where the murder rate plummets from the highest in the world to levels comparable with Canada's. El Salvador has achieved this dramatic shift, but at what cost? President Nayib Bukele's war on gangs has slashed crime rates, transforming once-terrifying streets into safe havens. Yet, this apparent victory comes with a dark side: mass incarceration, human rights abuses, and a blurred line between criminal and civilian. As El Salvador grapples with these consequences, the international community watches, torn between praise for the security gains and condemnation of the brutal methods. This is not just a story of crime reduction; it is a tale of moral complexity, where the ends and means collide in a high-stakes geopolitical drama. What price is too high for peace, and who decides when the scales tip from justice to injustice?

Key Takeaways

El Salvador's murder rate dropped from the highest in the world to levels comparable with Canada's due to President Nayib Bukele's war on gangs, which began in March 2022.
The civil war in El Salvador from 1980 to 1992, between the military-led government and the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN), created deep scars and displaced hundreds of thousands, contributing to the rise of gangs.
Gangs like Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio-18 controlled communities through extortion and violence, with extortion costs equivalent to 3% of El Salvador’s GDP in 2017.
President Nayib Bukele's aggressive tactics, including mass trials and arbitrary arrests, led to the detention of approximately 70,000 individuals by mid-2023, raising human rights concerns.
The Bukele administration's crackdown has resulted in the wrongful arrest of thousands, with up to 7,000 wrongly-accused prisoners released and more potentially still detained.
Bukele's New Ideas party has undermined democratic institutions by packing the Supreme Court and other key offices with loyalists, concentrating power in his hands.

El Salvador's Descent into Chaos: Historical Context of Gang Violence

To understand the ferocity of El Salvador's current war on gangs, one must delve into the historical context that bred these criminal organizations and allowed them to flourish. The roots of gang violence in El Salvador stretch back to the country's brutal civil war, which ravaged the nation from 1980 to 1992. This conflict, fought between the military-led government and the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN), a coalition of left-wing guerrilla groups, left deep scars on Salvadoran society. Over 75,000 people were killed, and hundreds of thousands more were displaced, creating an environment of fear, mistrust, and economic despair. The civil war also gave birth to the country's most notorious gangs. Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18 (M-18) were initially formed by Salvadoran immigrants in Los Angeles during the 1980s, many of whom had fled the violence in their home country. These gangs were created for protection and camaraderie, but they soon turned to criminal activities to generate income. When the U.S. began deporting gang members back to El Salvador in the 1990s, they brought their criminal enterprises with them. The Salvadoran government, still reeling from the civil war and struggling with economic instability, was ill-equipped to handle the influx of hardened criminals. The post-war era saw El Salvador grappling with high levels of poverty and social inequality. The peace accords signed in 1992 failed to address the deep-seated economic issues, leaving many Salvadorans marginalized and desperate. This environment was fertile ground for gangs, which offered a sense of belonging and economic opportunities to those who had none. The gangs quickly established control over poorer neighborhoods, using violence and intimidation to enforce their rule. Extortion became a primary source of income, with businesses and individuals forced to pay regular 'taxes' to avoid violence. The consequences of refusal were often brutal, with gang members resorting to murder and arson to send a clear message. The early 2000s saw a surge in gang violence, as MS-13 and Barrio 18 engaged in territorial battles and sought to expand their control. The government's response was often heavy-handed and ineffective, further alienating the population and driving more young people into the arms of the gangs. By 2015, El Salvador had the highest murder rate in the world, with over 103 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants. The violence was so pervasive that it was compared to active warzones, despite the absence of a formal conflict. The gangs had effectively taken control of many aspects of daily life, from public transportation to local businesses, creating a climate of fear and lawlessness. The historical context of gang violence in El Salvador is complex and multifaceted, shaped by a brutal civil war, economic inequality, and social marginalization. The gangs emerged from this environment, exploiting the vulnerabilities of a society struggling to rebuild after decades of conflict. Their rise to power was marked by violence and intimidation, creating a cycle of fear and retribution that has been difficult to break. As El Salvador grapples with the consequences of its war on gangs, it is crucial to understand the historical factors that contributed to the rise of these criminal organizations and the deep-seated issues that continue to fuel their activities.

The Bukele Era: El Salvador's Shocking Turnaround in Crime Statistics

As a result, most people coughed up. The National Transportation Board concluded in 2015 that members of their unions were collectively paying $34 million annually. In 2017, the organization Crisis Group estimated that extortion costs were equivalent to 3 percent of El Salvador’s GDP. As miserable as the shakedowns must’ve been, though, the real horror of the gangs was their brutality. Cross the wrong street, or walk into the wrong neighborhood, and you could be murdered. Do so as a female, and you first might be raped. Bored gang members with guns were known to take potshots at passing children. El Faro spoke to a youth soccer coach who had to suspend his club after gang members started shooting towards the kids for fun. And these are just the things we feel comfortable talking about. Read detailed reports of violence in the barrios, and you’ll find stomach-churning details we simply couldn’t include in this video. Still, hopefully even this was enough to give you some idea of the hell ordinary Salvadorans were suffering through. Of the moral depravity families had to cope with on a daily basis. Because it’s only when you understand that, that you’ll understand the intense support for the government’s crackdown. A crackdown that has brought peace, but only at a terrible cost. The question of whether that cost was worth it or not is something we’ll be trying to answer in the rest of today’s video. (TITLE): Behind Bars Like so many of El Salvador’s problems, the gangs can be blamed - at least in part - on the civil war. From 1979 to 1992, the nation was ripped apart by a conflict between successive hard-right governments and far-left rebels that was defined by atrocity. 75,000 people died, while maybe a quarter of the population fled. Among those refugees were thousands of traumatized youths, who swapped the killing fields of their homeland for places like inner-city Los Angeles. There, deprived of opportunities, some began to coalesce into gangs. Gangs like MS-13, which was born in LA. But it was only once the war ended that these groups became the stuff of nightmares. Deported back to a war-ravaged nation lacking in opportunities and awash with weapons, they decided to make money the only way they knew how: by inflicting terror. With the state too weak to intervene, El Salvador’s gangs quickly expanded. By the 2010s, it’s estimated that 70,000 people - one percent of the entire population - were members. Rather than fight so many criminals, the government tried to negotiate. In return for toning down the violence, imprisoned members would receive special treatment. Occasionally, these negotiations worked. Like in 2013, when the murder rate dropped to a post-civil war low. Other times, they failed spectacularly, like when homicides skyrocketed in 2015. Mostly, though, the violence just kept chugging along. Always there. Ever-present in people’s lives.

The Cracks in the Facade: Human Rights Abuses and Mass Incarceration

The escalation of President Nayib Bukele's war on gangs in El Salvador, initiated in March 2022, has cast a long shadow over the country's human rights landscape. The state of emergency, declared in response to a surge in gang violence, has facilitated widespread abuses and a staggering increase in incarceration rates. The government's aggressive tactics, which include mass trials, arbitrary arrests, and severe prison conditions, have raised alarming concerns among international human rights organizations. The mass incarceration campaign has led to the detention of approximately 65,000 individuals within the first year alone, bringing the total prison population to nearly two percent of the adult population. This unprecedented rate of incarceration surpasses even that of the United States, often cited for its high imprisonment numbers. The rapid influx of prisoners has exacerbated already dire conditions in El Salvador's prisons, leading to severe overcrowding and inadequate access to basic necessities such as food, water, and medical care. Human rights groups have reported instances of prisoners being held in containers without proper ventilation, highlighting the inhumane conditions they endure. Arbitrary arrests have become a hallmark of Bukele's crackdown. In December 2022, the city of Soyapango was subjected to a massive military operation involving 10,000 troops. The city was effectively cut off from the outside world as soldiers conducted door-to-door raids, arresting anyone suspected of having ties to gangs. This sweeping approach has resulted in the detention of numerous individuals without sufficient evidence, raising questions about the fairness and legality of the arrests. The government's use of emergency powers has allowed for expedited trials, often conducted en masse, further compromising the rights of the accused. The conditions within El Salvador's prisons have deteriorated significantly due to the influx of new inmates. Overcrowding has reached critical levels, with reports indicating that some facilities are operating at more than 300% capacity. This overcrowding has led to increased violence among inmates, as well as a heightened risk of disease outbreaks. The lack of adequate medical care has resulted in preventable deaths, adding to the human rights crisis. Moreover, the use of extreme measures, such as the forced relocation of prisoners to makeshift facilities, has drawn condemnation from international bodies, which have called for immediate improvements in prison conditions. The Bukele administration's approach to combating gang violence has been characterized by a disregard for due process and human rights. The mass trials, often involving hundreds of defendants at a time, have been criticized for their lack of transparency and fairness. Defendants frequently report being denied access to legal representation and being subjected to coercive tactics to extract confessions. The government's insistence on maintaining a hardline stance against gangs has prioritized short-term gains in public security over long-term sustainability and adherence to human rights principles. As the international community continues to monitor the situation, the need for a balanced approach that addresses both security concerns and human rights protections has become increasingly clear.

The Arbitrary Arrests: Understanding the Scale and Implications of Mass Incarceration

The dramatic reduction in gang violence in El Salvador has been accompanied by a stark increase in the number of arrests, raising serious concerns about due process and the integrity of the justice system. Since the declaration of the state of exception in March 2022, the Bukele administration has arrested tens of thousands of individuals suspected of gang affiliation. Official figures indicate that by mid-2023, over 70,000 people had been detained under the emergency measures. This mass incarceration campaign has been characterized by swift and often arbitrary arrests, with individuals being rounded up based on vague suspicions rather than concrete evidence. Critics argue that the government's approach has led to a significant number of wrongful detentions, with innocent people caught in the dragnet. The lack of due process is evident in the expedited trials and the suspension of certain constitutional rights, which have been justified under the guise of national security. Human rights organizations have documented numerous cases of individuals held without formal charges or access to legal representation, highlighting the erosion of judicial safeguards. The impact on the justice system has been profound. Courts are overwhelmed with cases, leading to backlogs and further delays in justice. The focus on gang-related arrests has diverted resources away from other critical areas of law enforcement, potentially allowing other crimes to go unchecked. Moreover, the prisons, already notorious for their overcrowding and harsh conditions, are now bursting at the seams. The rapid influx of detainees has exacerbated issues of violence and disease within the penal system, creating a humanitarian crisis within the prisons themselves. The government has responded by building new facilities, but these efforts have been criticized for their substandard conditions and the continued violation of prisoners' rights. The mass incarceration campaign has also had a chilling effect on civil society. Activists and human rights defenders have reported increased surveillance and harassment, creating a climate of fear and self-censorship. The Bukele administration has justified these measures as necessary for maintaining public order, but the long-term consequences for democratic governance and the rule of law are deeply concerning. The international community has expressed alarm over the situation, with organizations like the United Nations and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights calling for greater transparency and adherence to human rights standards. As El Salvador continues to grapple with the legacy of gang violence, the balance between security and civil liberties remains a contentious and unresolved issue. The mass incarceration campaign, while yielding short-term gains in public safety, risks entrenching a culture of authoritarianism and undermining the foundations of a just and equitable society.

False Accusations and Social Retribution: The Dark Side of El Salvador's Crackdown

President Bukele’s approval rating meanwhile hovers around 85 percent. To find a US president enjoying figures like that, you need to go back to the immediate aftermath of 9/11, when Americans rallied around George W. Bush. Yet, for all the clear, undoubted improvements Bukele’s approach has brought, it hasn’t been without cost. Time to hear the other side of today’s story. The dark compromises the government has made in its war on gangs to ensure victory. (TITLE): Fighting Fire with Fire? You’ve probably seen the photos on social media. Hundreds of heavily-tattooed men with shaved heads sit under the glare of harsh lights - forced to huddle in rows as armed guards ensure no-one moves out of line. Taken in the brand-new Center for the Confinement of Terrorism (or CECOT), such images are part of El Salvador’s publicity drive for its crackdown. A stark warning to gang members that decades of this treatment is all that awaits them. Yet, while these photos caused uproar in some quarters and cheering in others, they don’t tell the whole truth. Because the simple fact is that you cannot imprison over 65,000 people in 20 months without ignoring things like “due process” and “human rights”. Multiple sources report accused gang members being mass-tried in groups of up to 900, with no opportunities to prepare or present a defense. And that means that - among the hardened criminals - there are likely thousands of people now rotting in El Salvador’s squalid jails who shouldn’t even be there. Rights groups have documented some of the various reasons people have been locked up under Bukele. They range from “having a tattoo,” to “looking nervous.” Worse, the Washington Post reports that many neighbors with grudges to bear are using the crackdown as an excuse to get rid of those they don’t like - making false accusations in the knowledge that the courts won’t bother to check. In a survey by Salvadoran institute IUDOP this year, 34 percent said they knew someone innocent who’d been swept up in the dragnet. And that’s not including those who exist in the gray area between gang member and civilian. As people who live in wealthy, western nations, it can be hard for us to grasp this concept. Surely, you’re either part of a gang, or you’re not. But this underestimates the way El Salvador’s criminal groups utterly penetrated society. Otherwise-ordinary people were made to act as drivers for the gangs, on pain of death. Others were forced to help fund their activities. Now, some of them have been swept up along with the very people who’d been threatening them. Spanish daily El Pais carried a recent story on a transport company owner who was extorted by the gangs, and then arrested for funding them. For those innocents caught up in this, the experience must be akin to a season in hell. Rather than being let out on bail to prepare for their trial, those arrested are kept in overcrowded cells, where as many as 170 may share just two toilets. The guards overseeing these squalid conditions deliver savage beatings. By August this year, rights group Cristosal reported 181 inmates had been killed in Salvadoran jails. Some died from injuries. Some even starved to death. Among those living through this horror are over 1,000 minors.

The Blurred Lines between Gang Members and Civilians: Challenges in Implementation

With kids as young as 12 tried as adults in the new courts, dozens of middle schoolers are thought to be among those arrested. To be fair to the government, they have recently begun to acknowledge mistakes. Up to 7,000 wrongly-accused prisoners have now been released, although it’s thought there may still be more trapped in the system. With no known database of those arrested, and files relating to the state of exception classified, families often have no way of knowing what those jailed are even accused of. Speaking of families, the wave of arrests has placed a harsh financial burden on many. With the government allowing imprisoned gang members just one tortilla and egg to eat per day, mothers, wives, and children on the outside are forced to pay for monthly packages to stop their relatives from starving. According to the New Humanitarian, these jail packages cost anywhere from $17 to $120. For those at the bottom of the income ladder, their entire monthly wage may be as little as $365. So, yeah, I hope we can all agree that being swept up in this crackdown must be horrific, both for innocents arrested, and for family members left behind. And yet… and yet, for all the threat of arrest now hangs over the nation’s young men, polling suggests this is a price Salvadorans are willing to pay. In a recent interview, the editor of investigative journalism outfit El Faro - Óscar Martínez - explained it this way: “One may ask: How can it be that people still love him (Bukele) even though his government has arrested so many innocent people, and if there is so much suffering in jails? It is because people didn’t live in a democracy, they never have; they lived in a criminal regime where gangs raped their children. So, now, the state of emergency is the lesser evil. There are people who will accept having their son arrested if it means gangs won’t be in their neighborhood.” Nor are these people only living in El Salvador. Time to turn to perhaps the most-intriguing part of today’s episode. The growing interest in many neighboring countries in importing Bukele’s version of justice. (TITLE): Crime Continent If you don’t follow the news closely, you might not be aware that parts of Latin America are experiencing a surge in violence. While homicide rates in places like Mexico remain steady - and are even falling slightly in countries like Brazil - once-safe nations are currently being shaken by a spike in killings. Costa Rica is on track to suffer its most-murderous year in modern history. Chile has gone from being less-murderous than the United States to more-so. Ecuador, meanwhile, has become more-dangerous than either Brazil or Mexico. Across Latin America more-broadly, a sense of safety seems to be crumbling. Over half of people polled in Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, and other regional democracies reported feeling unsafe walking home at night. That compares to just a quarter of respondents in the USA. In many countries, the driving factor seems to be an increase in gang crime - often linked to drug shipping routes. All of which may explain why Nayib Bukele’s popularity has exploded across the Americas. The Economist reports a swell of support for Bukele in many parts of Latin America. A support not driven by his love of crypto or dank memes, but specifically by his harsh crackdown. As the magazine explained: “Faced with ever more powerful gangs, many Latin Americans appear to think sacrificing civil rights is a price worth paying for security.” This has translated into action at the ballot box. In October, Ecuadorians elected their own Bukele: the 35-year-old Daniel Noboa, who promised his own war on gangs. In Peru, the mayor of Lima - Rafael Lopez Aliaga - has proposed adopting what he calls the “Bukele Plan”. Whether it’s actually possible to import these methods to other nations, though, is another matter. As we said earlier, one of the key things that allowed Bukele to launch his war on gangs was a spectacular power grab.

Lasting Impact and International Implications: El Salvador's New Normal

The brutal campaign against gangs in El Salvador, spearheaded by President Nayib Bukele, has reshaped the country's political and social landscape. However, the long-term consequences of this approach remain a subject of intense debate and speculation. At the heart of this discussion lies the erosion of democratic institutions and the concentration of power in the hands of a single individual. Bukele's New Ideas party has systematically undermined the independence of the judiciary, packing the Supreme Court and other key offices with loyalists. This maneuver has enabled him to circumvent constitutional term limits, paving the way for his reelection in 2024. The media, once a bastion of free expression, has been either co-opted or silenced. El Faro, one of the few remaining independent news outlets, was forced to relocate to Costa Rica after facing extreme harassment. Political dissenters like Samuel Ramírez have been systematically shut down, creating an environment where criticism of the government is met with severe reprisals. Anthropologist Juan Martínez d'Aubuisson succinctly described this phenomenon as "the Bukele Model," which involves concentrating all power in one man. Óscar Martínez, editor-in-chief of El Faro, was even blunter, stating that "to end the gangs, Bukele also ended democracy." This model, characterized by unchecked executive power, is difficult to replicate in neighboring countries like Honduras and Guatemala, which still maintain some institutional independence. However, the popularity of Bukele's approach within El Salvador cannot be ignored. Polls consistently show that two-thirds of Salvadorans support democracy, yet there is a palpable reluctance to challenge Bukele's rule, reflecting his enduring popularity. The question of what happens next in El Salvador is complex and multifaceted. If Bukele secures another term, the war on gangs will undoubtedly continue, ensuring a period of relative safety and peace. However, the long-term implications are less certain. Óscar Martínez predicts a slide into dictatorship, where military power becomes the ultimate arbiter of political disputes. He warns that as Bukele's popularity wanes, the country may witness a return to military rule, with all its attendant repressions. This scenario is not without historical precedent in Latin America, where strongmen backed by the military have frequently seized control. Juan Martínez d'Aubuisson reinforces this view, describing the state under Bukele as a "state mafia," more organized and powerful than the street gangs it seeks to eradicate. Yet, this outcome is not inevitable. Other experts, such as journalist Ioan Grillo, suggest that the prolonged crackdown could cripple the Salvadoran state economically. The financial and human costs of maintaining such a draconian campaign could strain the country's resources, leading to a different set of challenges. Moreover, the international community's response will play a crucial role in shaping El Salvador's future. Countries like the United States, which have historically influenced the region's politics, will need to balance their support for security with concerns over human rights and democratic governance. The outcome of El Salvador's experiment with authoritarianism will have far-reaching implications for the entire region, serving as a cautionary tale or a blueprint for other countries grappling with similar issues. As El Salvador stands at this crossroads, the world watches to see whether the country will emerge as a model of effective governance or a cautionary tale of unchecked power.

Beyond the Headlines: The Uncertain Future of El Salvador's War on Gangs

The extraordinary results achieved by El Salvador's war on gangs under President Nayib Bukele present a complex tapestry of success and concern. With over 65,000 alleged gang members detained since March 2022, the country has seen a dramatic reduction in homicides, dropping from 1,326 in 2022 to just 228 in 2023. However, the sustainability of these results remains uncertain. The financial burden of incarcerating 1.7% of the population is immense, particularly for a country with El Salvador's economic challenges. The government's expenditure on security has surged, raising questions about the long-term viability of such aggressive measures. Bukele's administration faces a delicate balancing act: maintaining public safety without bankrupting the state or provoking social unrest. The risk of gangs resurging or new forms of violence emerging cannot be ignored. While the current public sentiment favors the trade-off of reduced human rights for enhanced security, this approval may wane if the crackdown continues to ensnare innocent individuals. The potential for riots or uprisings cannot be dismissed, especially if the government's actions are perceived as overly draconian. Moreover, the example of Mexico's Drug War serves as a cautionary tale. Despite periods of apparent success, the conflict has repeatedly spiraled out of control, with powerful cartels filling the void left by dismantled gangs. El Salvador must be vigilant to prevent a similar outcome, where the vacuum created by the dismantling of MS-13 and other gangs is filled by even more formidable criminal organizations. The future of El Salvador's war on gangs hinges on finding a balanced approach that addresses the root causes of violence while ensuring public safety. This entails investing in education, economic opportunities, and community development to provide alternatives to gang life. It also requires a nuanced understanding of the moral complexities involved. While the state of exception has undoubtedly improved the lives of many, the human rights abuses and constitutional violations cannot be overlooked. The international community must engage constructively with El Salvador, offering support and guidance to help the country navigate this treacherous path. The legacy of Bukele's presidency will be shaped by how he manages these challenges. If he can sustain the peace and address the underlying issues, he may be remembered as the leader who saved his country from decades of violence. However, if the crackdown leads to authoritarianism or renewed conflict, his tenure could be seen as a cautionary tale. The world watches El Salvador with a mix of hope and apprehension, recognizing that the country stands at a critical juncture. The choices made today will determine whether El Salvador becomes a beacon of hope or a warning of the dangers of unchecked power.

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Jackson Reed

Jackson Reed creates and presents analysis focused on military doctrine, strategic competition, and conflict dynamics.

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