The president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, stated on Monday that in the so-called 'war' against gangs, carried out under a state of emergency in effect since March 2022, 'not a single civilian has died.' He also said that 'God guided' this security plan. Bukele participated in an event called the 'National Prayer Breakfast for El Salvador,' organized by the Próspera Foundation, which was also attended by authorities from the three branches of state, diplomatic representatives, and religious leaders. According to the Presidency, this first event 'was a space designed for leaders from all areas of influence to meet to pray for the nation, promote unity, and strengthen alliances based on faith, values, and the shared hope for a better future.' 'This national prayer breakfast, the first one here (in El Salvador), gives us a great example of how political differences can be set aside for something much more important, which is our relationship with our creator,' declared the Salvadoran president during his speech. Bukele spoke about the current situation in El Salvador regarding security, highlighting the implementation of the state of emergency to combat gangs, and insisted that this Central American country is 'today the safest in the Western Hemisphere.' He also described the gangs as 'a dictatorship that governed El Salvador,' and that 'these groups not only killed more Salvadorans than died in the (civil) war, but they also held the country hostage.' 'They were the real government of this country,' he added.
