Bernardo Arevalo

Bernardo Arevalo is the President of Guatemala. He is newsworthy due to his recent declaration of a 30-day nationwide state of emergency in response to escalating gang violence. This decision followed a series of coordinated attacks by gangs, including prison riots where gang-affiliated inmates took hostages and the killings of at least ten police officers in the capital and surrounding areas. The violence appears to be in retaliation for authorities quelling the prison riots and ending the hostage situations. The state of emergency allows police to arrest suspected criminals without judicial orders. Arevalo's actions highlight the ongoing challenges Guatemala faces in combating organized crime and maintaining public safety.