Mexico has experienced increased violence in the past week, resulting in multiple casualties. On 24 October, a shootout between local police officers and alleged members of two rival criminal groups led to 16 deaths, including two police officers, in Guerrero, which has become a disputed area for criminal groups seeking to expand their territory. Explosions in two towns in Guanajuato state on 24 October caused three injuries. On 21 October, gunmen, suspected to be cartel members, fired at soldiers in Sinaloa, leading to a shootout and the deaths of 19 alleged gang members.
Reasons for the Increase in Violence
Violence in the western Pacific coast states of Mexico has intensified since the arrest of veteran cartel leader Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada Garcia by US officials in July. Zambada has alleged that Joaquin Guzman Lopez, a senior member of the Los Chapitos faction of the Sinaloa cartel, kidnapped him and flew him to an airstrip near the city of El Paso, Texas, United States, after which he was arrested.
Increase in Shooutouts and Security Measures
- Following the shootout in Sinaloa, authorities seized seven vehicles and around 30 firearms, including machine guns, ammunition, and military-style vests and helmets. A local cartel leader was also arrested.
- n addition to the shootouts, increasing political violence has led to the deaths of multiple politicians, including the mayor of Chilpancingo city in the state of Guerrero, causing widespread anger and protests.
- The increasing gang violence in Sinaloa since September has resulted in around 200 deaths and more than 300 missing persons, according to official data. The federal government has heightened security measures in violence-hit areas and deployed more than 1,000 soldiers for patrols.
- The violent conflicts have also significantly affected businesses in the area and the overall economy.
Potential Impact of the Violence
The increasing violence in Mexico has raised questions about new President Claudia Sheinbaum’s ability to curtail the influence of drug cartels and the resulting violence. Her predecessor, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, had a militarized security approach, which Sheinbaum seems to follow, alongside improved intelligence sharing and coordination among government organizations and a stronger National Guard. Critics have argued that Obrador’s passive approach to violence allowed cartels to strengthen and expand. On the other hand, Obrador has stated that the United States is partially responsible for the increasing violence and instability due to their arrest of Zambada and the alleged talks between US officials and Guzman Lopez. The US Ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, has denied any involvement in the alleged kidnapping. The violence could potentially result in increased tensions between Mexico and the US.
