Peru Declares 30-Day State of Emergency in Lima to Fight Rising Crime

Post by : Saif Nasser

Peru’s President Jose Jeri announced a 30-day state of emergency in the capital Lima and the nearby province of Callao on Tuesday. The decision is aimed at controlling rising crime and restoring public safety in the country.

The announcement came after protests last week that resulted in one death and more than 100 people injured. President Jeri said the state of emergency would allow the armed forces to work alongside the police to maintain law and order. He did not give specific details on how the military would be deployed.

In a televised speech, Jeri said, "We are moving from defense to offense in the fight against crime, a fight that will allow us to regain peace, tranquility, and the trust of millions of Peruvians."

President Jeri took office earlier this month after Congress removed former President Dina Boluarte. Since then, he has formed a new cabinet and has made reducing crime one of his top priorities.

The new president also faced his first major protest, organized by civil society groups and young people from Generation Z. Protesters demanded urgent action against increasing criminal activity in Lima and surrounding areas.

This is not the first time Peru has imposed a state of emergency for security reasons. Former President Boluarte declared a similar 30-day emergency in March. However, analysts and security experts say that previous emergency measures have had limited success in reducing crime.

The new state of emergency will start just after midnight and is approved by the Council of Ministers. It is expected to give the authorities more power to act quickly against criminals, increase patrols, and ensure public safety in streets, markets, and public transport areas.

Experts warn that while the military presence can help in the short term, long-term solutions require better policing, social programs, and stronger judicial enforcement to tackle the root causes of crime.

Citizens in Lima and Callao expressed mixed reactions. Some welcomed the move, hoping it will reduce street crime and robberies, while others worry that the emergency powers could be used too harshly or affect ordinary people.

President Jeri’s government faces a challenge to balance security measures with civil liberties, as repeated emergency declarations in the past have shown that simply increasing military presence may not solve the underlying crime problems.