Juliaca massacre

The Juliaca massacre occurred on 9 January 2023, in the city of Juliaca, located in Peru’s Puno Department, amid widespread protests against President Dina Boluarte's government. The event marked one of the deadliest confrontations during the 2022–2023 Peruvian political protests, which erupted following the ousting and imprisonment of former president Pedro Castillo. Peruvian National Police opened fire on demonstrators, who were primarily local civilians of Quechua and Aymara heritage, resulting in the deaths of at least 18 civilians, including a medical worker, and injuries to over 100 individuals. Most fatalities were caused by gunshot wounds, with reports indicating the use of military-grade weapons by police, sparking widespread condemnation.

The massacre unfolded as part of a broader wave of civil unrest fueled by longstanding grievances in Peru’s marginalized rural regions, where protesters demanded early elections and Castillo’s release. The violence in Juliaca drew international criticism, including from human rights organizations and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, which categorized the incident as a "massacre." In the aftermath, allegations surfaced that police infiltrators and excessive use of force contributed to the deaths and injuries, leading to calls for accountability within Peru and abroad.