Security & Strategic Review - January 2013 (ISSN 1741-4202)

EL SALVADOR | Expanding the gang truce. The truce agreed in March 2012 between El Salvador’s two biggest street gangs, Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and La 18, is about to enter a third phase. The second, largely unremarked phase was the announcement in October that five smaller street gangs (Mao-Mao, Máquina, Mirada Locos, La Raza and Mara Desorden) would be joining in. Up to this point the ‘truce’ added up to a mutual non-aggression pact between the participants. On 19 January five of these (La Raza and Mara Desorden appear to have dropped out) agreed to expand the scope of the ‘truce’ into what amounts to a broad ceasefire: a commitment to halt all criminal activities.

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