Sandra is ACLED’s Latin America & the CaribbeanSenior Analyst. In this capacity, she conducts and coordinates analysis, oversees the accuracy of conflict trends in the region, and serves as the main point of contact for partnerships and external engagement for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Sandra has been with the organization since 2018, first starting as a researcher and supporting the expansion of ACLED’s coverage in Latin America, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Prior to joining ACLED, Sandra has worked with international organizations in the field of conflict prevention and minority rights, and held several positions in the non-governmental organizations sector with experience in Bolivia, Chile, Haiti, and Honduras.
Sandra holds an International Master in Russian, Central and East European Studies from the University of Glasgow and a Master of International Relations from KIMEP University Almaty. Her areas of research include political violence in Latin America, non-state actors, and organized crime dynamics.
Spoken languages: English, French, Spanish Timezone: Central European Time - CET
An operation against the CV gang killed at least 121 people in Rio de Janeiro, gangs expanded across multiple areas in Artibonite, Haiti, and US strikes on vessels in the Pacific fueled diplomatic tensions.
A look at states of emergency in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago shows that these measures are likely ineffective at curbing gang violence in the long term.
In July, the Los Choneros leader’s arrest in Manabí, Ecuador, triggered a deadly dispute, the government in Trinidad and Tobago imposed a new state of emergency, and artisanal miners in Peru mobilized to demand formalization.
In June, a Supreme Court ruling against former Argentine President Fernández de Kirchner sparked protests, clashes between Evo Morales supporters and security forces in Bolivia turn deadly, and fears of political violence ahead of elections were reignited.
This Special Election Series explores the drivers of violence targeting political figures in Mexico at the subnational levels during the 2024 electoral cycle.
In May 2025, inter- and intra-gang disputes drove an uptick in violence in the Guatemala department, violence targeting politicians intensifies in Veracruz state and Mexico City, Mexico, and gang violence in Haiti declines in frequency but increases in lethality.
In April 2025, violence escalated in Colombia as the Gulf Clan launched attacks against security forces, Noboa won re-election in Ecuador amid rising violence, and police intensified anti-gang actions in Jamaica.
The rift in the Sinaloa Cartel has resulted in a realignment of criminal groups and openings for new conflicts in contested territories that will affect Mexico's criminal dynamics.
Watch the recorded webinar examining how the fallout of the Sinaloa Cartel dispute has set off a broader realignment of criminal groups in Mexico and opened up opportunities for new conflicts in contested territories.
