ABSTRACT
The conflict in El Salvador grew in complexity and sophistication in 2018, with the Mara Salvatrucha transnational gang remaining the primary offensive actor. The gang maintains a relatively hierarchical structure, although local-level members have a significant amount of autonomy, particularly in generating revenues. The El Salvador branch of the gang is led by la ranfla, or national leadership, who set the overall policies and strategies. Gang violence, rampant corruption and economic stagnation are the primary drivers of the conflict in El Salvador, along with widespread impunity, which undermines the legitimacy of the state. The Policia Nacional Civil interaction with the Salvadoran population, both in and around areas of gang control, is limited to armed incursions in affected neighbour-hoods to arrest specific gang members or disrupt particular gang activities. The gang’s structural reliance on violence as the primary instrument of social control is a main driver of both internal and external migration.
