Peru Declares 30-Day State Of Emergency In Lima Amid Protests and Crime

Peru Declares 30-Day State of Emergency in Lima Amid Protests and Rising Crime Peru Peru’s interim president José Jerí declared a 30-day state of emergency in the capital of Lima and the neighboring port of Callao this week, in an effort to quell weeks of anti-government protests and a sharp surge in violent crime that has destabilized the country, Agence France-Presse reported. On Tuesday, Jerí said the decree would take effect at midnight Wednesday, allowing the government to send troops onto the streets and restrict freedom of assembly and movement. The measure marks the new president’s first major action since assuming office nearly two weeks ago, following the impeachment of his predecessor, Dina Boluarte, over corruption allegations and her failure to curb organized crime. It follows weeks of youth-led demonstrations that have spread throughout the country, demanding government accountability amid worsening insecurity. The capital had already been under a partial state of emergency earlier this year following the murder of singer Paul Flores in an alleged extortion attempt. More than 200 people have been injured in the protests, including police officers and journalists. Last week, one person was killed during demonstrations demanding that Jerí resign. Jerí – who is expected to serve until July 2026 – has refused calls to step down. Meanwhile, critics and observers questioned whether the government has a concrete plan to address the root causes of organized crime, including a rise in extortion, Al Jazeera wrote. Authorities have said extortion cases have surged to an estimated 18,000 this year – a 30 percent increase over 2024 – while homicides rose to 1,690 between January and September, compared with 1,502 during the same period last year. At least 47 bus drivers have been killed in suspected extortion-related attacks, prompting widespread outrage over the state’s inability to maintain order. Share this story