Part 5/10:
The roots of gang violence in El Salvador can be traced back to the Salvadorian Civil War from 1980 to 1992, during which many citizens fled to the U.S. Seeking refuge, they formed communities that eventually gave rise to the gangs notorious for their brutality. The relentless cycle of violence escalated in the 2000s, with murder rates peaking at an alarming 103 per 100,000 people by 2015.
In reaction to the growing chaos, the Salvadorian government adopted increasingly desperate measures, often turning a blind eye to illegal activities by the gangs in an attempt to keep the peace. However, this "truce" allowed gang members to operate with impunity within prisons, where they effectively ran their criminal enterprises.