Guatemala declares state of emergency after prison riots and police killings

Exam-focused facts from the 20 January 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

President Bernardo Arevalo issued a 30-day state-of-emergency order on Sunday.
The order restricts civil liberties and allows arrests without prior court approval.
Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) were designated as 'foreign terrorist organizations' by the United States in September.
Aldo Duppie, imprisoned leader of Guatemala’s Barrio 18 gang, is also known by the nickname El Lobo.