Peru declares emergency, deploys army as violence surges in the capital

Peru's President declares state of emergency in capital after surge of violence, deploying soldiers to assist police.

Peru's President declared a state of emergency in the capital on Monday (March 17, 2025) and ordered the deployment of soldiers to help police address a surge of violence, amid widespread outcry a day after the killing of a popular singer.

President Dina Boluarte's government published a decree saying that the state of emergency will last 30 days, and authorities will restrict some rights, including the freedom of assembly and movement. That means the police and the army would be able to detain people without a judicial order.

Peru has seen an increase in killings, violent extortion and attacks on public places in recent months. Police reported 459 killings from January 1 to March 16, and 1,909 extortion reports in January alone. But outrage crested after the killing of Paul Flores on Sunday (March 16, 2025), the 39-year-old lead singer of the cumbia band Armonia 10.

In Congress, opposition lawmakers requested a vote of no confidence against Interior Minister Juan José Santiváñez for what they say is a lack of a plan to fight rising violence. The vote is expected to be discussed in the Congress' plenary later this week.

Flores was shot to death early Sunday (March 16, 2025) when assailants attacked the bus he and his bandmates were travelling after a concert in Lima. Cumbia is a Latin music style in which people dance to the rhythm of drums, maracas and other instruments.

The attack against the popular singer was not the only violent event over the weekend. On Saturday (March 16, 2025), an object exploded at a restaurant in the capital, injuring at least 11 people.

Ms. Boluarte’s government previously decreed a state of emergency in an attempt to stem the violence between September and December.