Peru's Capital in Chaos
State of Emergency in Lima After Deadly Protests Erupt Against New President
This is a developing story.
Lima, Peru's sprawling capital, descended into mayhem overnight as violent clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces left at least one dead and dozens injured, prompting the incoming administration to signal an imminent state of emergency declaration.
The unrest, erupting Thursday evening outside the Congress building, marks a fiery start for newly sworn-in President José Jeri, thrust into power amid accusations of corruption, spiraling crime, and deep-seated fury over Peru's political elite.
As tear gas clouds billowed and barricades burned, the ombudsman's office warned the government could invoke emergency powers within hours, deploying troops to restore order in a city of 10 million already strained by economic woes and institutional distrust.
The flashpoint unfolded as thousands, led by youth activists, transport workers, taxi drivers, and civic groups, marched toward Congress in a Gen Z march that swelled into a broader revolt. What began as a demonstration against graft and insecurity escalated when protesters hurled rocks and set fires, met by police firing live rounds and tear gas. Reuters confirmed one fatality from a police bullet after an officer was assaulted; dozens more, including officers, suffered injuries from the melee.
Videos circulating on X depict streets ablaze near Plaza San Martín, with armored vehicles ramming barricades and sirens piercing the night, echoing Peru's turbulent history of street battles that toppled leaders like Pedro Castillo in 2022.
Jeri, a centrist lawmaker who assumed office just days ago following snap elections amid Boluarte's ouster, faces immediate tests: Protesters decried his cabinet as more of the same, pointing to ties with disgraced predecessors and failure to curb extortion rackets plaguing buses and vendors.
Prime Minister Ernesto Álvarez Miranda vowed police reforms and emergency measures, telling reporters the government will not tolerate anarchy. The declaration, expected imminently, would suspend rights like assembly and movement for 30 days, empowering the military to back police—a tactic Peru has wielded repeatedly, from 2023 anti-Boluarte riots (49 dead) to March's crime-wave emergency after singer Paul Flores' assassination.
Peru's fragility is no secret: President Boluarte's 2021-2025 tenure saw approval ratings crater below 10%, fueled by corruption scandals, a 2022 constitutional crisis, and economic fallout from COVID and commodity slumps, pushing poverty to 30% and crime to record highs (1,909 extortions in January 2025 alone).
Youth-led fury, amplified by social media, mirrors global Gen Z mobilizations, but here it's raw: Congress is a thieves' den, one marcher told AFP, hurling stones at riot shields.
U.S. Embassy alerts urged Americans to carry IDs and avoid crowds, citing risks of arbitrary checks. As dawn broke Friday, barricades smoldered and patrols thickened, Jeri's honeymoon over before it began.