Who Is Nayib Bukele? El Salvador’s ‘coolest dictator’

On March 25, 2022, members of Mara Salvatrucha killed 62 people in El Salvador, prompting a swift response from President Nayib Bukele. Parliament approved a state of emergency, suspending constitutional rights and leading to the arrest of over 10,000 individuals in two weeks. By 2026, about 1.9% of the population is imprisoned, raising concerns about human rights violations. Despite this, many Salvadorans support Bukele's measures.