Peruvian lawmakers voted to remove Interior Minister Juan Jose Santivanez, who faced criticism amid a rise in crime in the country. His ousting was attributed to "his political responsibility and inability to address the wave of citizen insecurity the country has been facing," as stated by the Peruvian Congress.
Additionally, the government has deployed soldiers to the streets of Lima to help manage a recent surge in violence that resulted in the death of a popular singer. This crime wave, characterized by an increase in extortion rackets, led President Dina Boluarte to express her desire for murderers to face the death penalty, even though Peru only permits execution for those convicted of treason.
According to the national agency tracking deaths, the number of homicides in Peru rose by over 35% in 2024, increasing from 1,508 in 2023 to 2,059 last year.