Regional Overview: Latin America & the Caribbean | December 2022

Peru: Deadly unrest erupts after Pedro Castillo’s removal from office

On 7 December, President Pedro Castillo was removed from office and arrested after announcing plans to dissolve Congress and create an emergency government. In his place, his vice president, Dina Boluarte, ascended to the presidency. Castillo’s ousting set off nationwide demonstrations demanding the scheduling of new general elections in 2023, Boluarte’s resignation, and the release of Castillo. While demonstrations remained mainly peaceful, clashes between demonstrators and police led to the killing of at least 21 people. In addition, demonstrators targeted media facilities and journalists covering demonstrations in at least five violent incidents. In response to the unrest, the government declared a 60-day state of emergency suspending many civil liberties, including the freedom of assembly. In an effort to subdue the unrest, the new president, Boluarte, proposed bringing general elections forward to April 2024, instead of holding office until the end of Castillo’s term in April 2026.

Colombia: Christmas truce prompts a decrease in violence amid ceasefire negotiations

Political violence in Colombia decreased by 23% in December compared to the month prior, with several armed groups announcing their participation in a Christmas truce from 24 December to 2 January. Violence notably decreased in Chocó department, where the National Liberation Army (ELN) also lifted an armed curfew, set on 15 December, that violently imposed limits on movement in the department. The decline in violence came a week before President Gustavo Petro announced a six-month bilateral ceasefire with the ELN, the Gulf Clan, Los Pachenca, and two Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) dissident groups — the Second Marquetalia and the Central General Staff factions — on 31 December. Following his announcement, the ELN denied reaching such an agreement, prompting the government to backtrack. The absence of the ELN from the ceasefire agreement could endanger the government’s negotiations with other armed groups and affect their willingness to demobilize.

Mexico: Deadly violence in Zacatecas and Sonora states amid ongoing gang rivalries

Violence continued to increase in Zacatecas state, with armed groups reportedly killing a judge and at least four off-duty police officers in separate attacks. The Sinaloa Cartel also launched an assault in a prison in Cieneguillas to free some of its members. Recent attacks against state authorities in Zacatecas have been linked to disputes between the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and the Sinaloa Cartel. These groups have sought local authorities’ support through cooptation or coercion to control drug trafficking routes that connect to Mexico’s northern states.

Meanwhile, violence in Sonora state grew to its deadliest levels in 2022, with at least 48 reported fatalities in December, compared to 33 in November. Much of the worsening violence has been driven by a territorial dispute between Los Chapitos and Los Rusos gangs — both armed factions of the Sinaloa Cartel. Throughout the year, ACLED records several increases in violence in Sonora, amid competition between rival gangs over the control of drug trafficking routes across the US border.

Haiti: Deadly anti-gang operations and attacks against civilians as gangs dispute control in the north of Ouest department

Police carried out anti-gang operations in the Archaie arrondissement between 4 and 5 December, resulting in clashes that left an unknown number of gang members dead. The operations came in response to recent deadly gang attacks linked to the territorial expansion of the Base 5 Secondes gang in the arrondissement. The gang has expanded their control to the Lafiteau port, its surrounding industrial area, and National Route 1 connecting Port-au-Prince to the Artibonite department.

Along National Route 1, at the level of Canaan in Croix-des-Bouquets arrondissement, gangs also carried out several attacks against bus drivers and passengers, reportedly killing more than 12 people. Throughout 2022, ACLED records an increase in violence in the northern part of Ouest department – including Croix-des-Bouquets and Archaie – relative to previous years, as gangs continue to expand activities to seize national assets.

Ecuador: Armed groups target candidates ahead of upcoming local elections

Violence targeting candidates, their relatives, and advisers increased ahead of local elections scheduled for 5 February. In December, ACLED records at least six separate incidents, including an attack carried out by hitmen against a mayoral candidate in Portoviejo, the capital of the Manabí province, which left him critically injured. Unknown shooters also opened fire at the house of a mayor running for reelection in Rio Frio, Manabí, and unknown perpetrators shot and reportedly killed the nephew of a mayoral candidate in Esmeraldas province. In Guayas, armed men shot and reportedly killed the adviser to a mayoral candidate for the Social Christian party in Duran. In 2022, at least 103 candidates, relatives, or advisers for the upcoming election were victims of targeted attacks. The government of President Guillermo Lasso claims that some candidates in the local elections hold links with organized crime groups, suggesting that through these attacks, organized crime groups aim to secure the victories of their candidates and the continuation of their illegal activities.

Brazil: Violence linked to organized crime increased in the Amazon region

Deadly political violence increased in the border states of Amapá and Amazonas in the north of the country. In Amapá, ACLED records at least 23 reported fatalities in December, representing a 92% increase compared to the previous month, and at least 58 reported fatalities in Amazonas, an increase of 35%. Both states are part of the Legal Amazon region, which comprises nine Brazilian states, and are home to a complex network of organized crime. Violence in these states is attributable to the expansion of organized crime groups, including the Capital Command and the Red Command, which clash over the control of national and international drug trafficking routes. Armed groups have also sought to diversify their resources by accessing illegal markets in the area, including illegal logging and mining, wildlife and human trafficking.