Peru declares state of emergency in Lima amid rising violence

Peru’s new president on Tuesday declared a 30-day state of emergency in the capital as part of the government’s efforts to curb a surge in violence that has fueled protests and contributed to the removal of his predecessor.

Peru has seen a rise in killings, violent extortion, and attacks on public spaces in recent years. Police reported 1,690 homicides between January and September this year, up from 1,502 during the same period in 2024.

Former President Dina Boluarte was ousted by Congress on Oct. 10 following an impeachment process in which lawmakers cited her inability to tackle the escalating crime wave. She was immediately succeeded by José Jerí, then head of the legislative body.

In a televised address, Jerí said the emergency in Lima would last for 30 days and indicated that the government is considering measures such as deploying the military to assist police and restricting certain rights, including freedom of assembly and movement. “Wars are won with actions, not words,” he said, outlining a new approach to crime prevention he described as shifting “from defense to offense.”

The announcement comes amid ongoing protests against violence and corruption, led largely by Gen Z activists. Demonstrators took to the streets of Lima on Thursday demanding Jerí’s resignation, with clashes leaving one civilian dead and around 100 people injured, including police officers and journalists. Jerí maintained he would not step down.

Boluarte had also declared a 30-day state of emergency in March, but it had little impact on reducing crime.