Notice to French people who plan to travel to Peru soon, in the midst of a political crisis: “We remind our compatriots that (…) trips to Peru are to be avoided” due to the violent protests following the dismissal of President Pedro Castillo, indicated this Monday Anne-Claire Legendre, spokesperson for the Quai d’Orsay, in a press release. Last week, she called on them to postpone “non-essential travel”.
“A crisis unit has been opened by our embassy in Peru to respond to our nationals in difficulty”, she also announced, specifying that “the first French nationals passing through have been able to reach the capital”. In addition, the French Embassy is “fully mobilized (…) to continue facilitating these operations, particularly in the (southern) regions of Cuzco and Arequipa, and to assist” French nationals “still blocked”.
The spokesperson did not specify the number of French people concerned.
Twenty dead
The demonstrators demand the release of Pedro Castillo, the resignation of his successor, Dina Boluarte, who has already announced that she will not leave, the dissolution of Parliament and immediate general elections. The most violent protests have taken place in the poverty-stricken Andean region of southern Peru, where social grievances have long gone unaddressed.
France is following “with concern” the situation in Peru where the violence has left more than twenty dead and hundreds injured. “We call for an immediate end to the violence and the resumption of dialogue so that a peaceful solution can be found in accordance with the rule of law and the Constitution,” the spokesperson for the French ministry also declared. “We call on all actors to engage in the political reforms necessary for the resolution of the crisis and the democratic stability of the country. »