There is a war going on in Brazil's largest favela and it just drew the deployment of 950 troops after nearly a week of gun battles sparked by a power vacuum in the gang that runs the locale.

The violence reportedly started up last Sunday, September 17, and has continued to the present, with sporadic exchanges that sometimes last for hours and paralyze any movement or social interaction between the 100,000 civilians that inhabit the town of Rocinha. Early on in the conflict, it is reported that hundreds of armed members of the Amigos dos Amigos gang roamed the streets seeking out rivals within the organization who serve as a threat to fill dominating positions within its hierarchy. Such has been the case ever since their leader was imprisoned.

Authorities are taking the siege seriously, as Brazil's Defense Minister has alerted troops that they are taking up the task of combating against "a parallel state that exists today in Rio." It is said that the government faces an uphill battle considering more and more politicians have been exposed as corrupt and officers have been demoralized by late salary payments. Plus, they face ruthless a ruthless force, in the gang, which has been responsible for killing 103 police officers thus far in 2017.