Outlook for gang dialogue.
On January 16, the Surenos faction of the Barrio 18 gang announced its desire to join proposed dialogue between the government and its rival gang, the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13). The remarks, reported in online magazine El Faro, follow calls by the MS-13 for negotiations that the gang says could ultimately lead it to disband. This comes amid continuing high levels of violence and increasing recognition that the government's hard-line approach to security is not working.
The absence of a political ideology would make it difficult for the government to engage in public dialogue with gangs.
Public finances would struggle to cope with the cost of any gang demobilisation process.
Any moves from the MS-13 national leadership to end gang activities would be extremely difficult to implement at the local level.
