In an interview, Nayib Bukele credited God and prayer for his administration’s success in dismantling violent gangs and transforming El Salvador from one of the world’s most dangerous countries into one of the safest in the Western Hemisphere.
Bukele said the notorious gang MS-13 evolved into a “satanic organization,” citing documented rituals and accounts from former members, including alleged child sacrifice.
After a surge in gang violence in 2022, Bukele launched an aggressive nationwide crackdown under a state of exception, leading to nearly 80,000 arrests and a dramatic drop in homicides.
Calling the outcome a “miracle,” Bukele said the government won not only a physical battle but a “spiritual war,” emphasizing that beyond strategy and force, prayer played a central role in the campaign’s success.
