From Bloodshed To Bukele: A Timeline Of El Salvador’s War, Gangs And Crackdown
El Salvador’s modern security situation stems from a century of political violence, beginning with the 1932 La Matanza massacre and culminating in a brutal civil war that ended in 1992. Decades of instability gave rise to powerful street gangs, which dominated many neighborhoods and drove mass migration to the United States. President Nayib Bukele’s aggressive anti‑gang crackdown has dramatically lowered homicide rates and earned him over 90 percent approval, though it has drawn criticism for its authoritarian tactics.
- ▪The 1932 La Matanza saw more than 30,000 peasants and Indigenous people killed, ushering in decades of military rule and repression.
- ▪The Salvadoran civil war between the FMLN and government forces lasted until 1992, leaving more than 75,000 dead and prompting over a million people to flee, many to Los Angeles.
- ▪Street gangs that emerged in the 1990s came to control large parts of the country, contributing to high homicide rates and economic decline.
- ▪Since taking office, President Nayib Bukele has implemented a hard‑line crackdown on gangs, sharply reducing homicide rates and boosting his approval rating above 90 percent.
- ▪Human‑rights groups and foreign critics argue that Bukele’s tactics undermine the rule of law and risk further authoritarianism.
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World From Bloodshed To Bukele: A Timeline Of El Salvador’s War, Gangs And Crackdown (Photo by MARVIN RECINOS/AFP via Getty Images) Derek VanBuskirk Reporter July 10, 2026 11:59 AM ET July 10, 2026 11:59 AM ET Derek VanBuskirk Reporter Font Size: const observer = new MutationObserver((mutations) => { const adDivToHide = document.querySelector("#dailycaller_incontent_1"); if (adDivToHide && dc_noads_page) { adDivToHide.classList.add("hide-premium", "hide-free"); observer.disconnect(); console.log("Ad div found and hidden"); } }); observer.observe(document.body, { childList: true, subtree: true }); Although it may now be leading the conversation in safety and law enforcement, El Salvador reached that point only after a decades-long crucible, often exchanging the tyranny of military…
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