Guatemalan Prison Unrest: Guards Held Hostage Amid Gang Leader Tensions

In an alarming development, numerous Guatemalan prison guards have been taken hostage in three separate facilities by inmates, as confirmed by authorities.

Interior Minister Marco Antonio Villeda expressed willingness to initiate discussions with the prisoners but firmly declined to concede to their demands. The unrest reportedly stems from recent administrative decisions to revoke certain privileges from gang leaders.

A surge in social media activity has seen prisoners demanding transfers, as National Police units bolster their presence around the affected prisons. This situation underscores the government's challenge in severing the ties between prison and organized crime, a stance reinforced by President Bernardo Arévalo in recent remarks.