Guatemalan Inmates Riot in Three Prisons, Holding 46 Hostages Amid Gang Demands

On January 17, 2026, inmates coordinated riots at three Guatemalan prisons, taking 46 people hostage, mostly guards. The Interior Minister, Marco Antonio Villeda, attributed the unrest to the Barrio 18 gang reacting to revoked privileges and demands for prisoner transfers. Authorities deployed police and military forces to contain the situation, emphasizing no negotiations with gangs. President Bernardo Arévalo highlighted efforts to sever criminal links within prisons following recent gang escapes. No injuries or deaths were reported.