Mexico’s state institutions have been bedevilled for decades by widespread corruption and powerful transnational criminal organisations. Crime and the “war on drugs” have destabilised the country and fuelled violence; meanwhile, thousands of refugees and migrants flee through Mexico from similar volatility in Central America. Crisis Group focuses on addressing criminal violence, institutional corruption, trafficking and migration. Our aim is to help solve challenges to security posed by global criminal networks, local armed groups and the elusiveness of state rule.
Cada vez más mujeres se unen a grupos criminales que disputan territorios en México, lo que aumenta los peligros que estas organizaciones representan. Para frenar esta tendencia y ayudar a las integrantes a dejar estos grupos, las autoridades deben cooperar con la sociedad civil para ofrecer alternativas de subsistencia.
Criminal violence remained rampant, govt and security forces faced more backlash for high number of disappearances, and Hurricane Otis wrought destruction in Acapulco city.
Criminal violence, some of it politically motivated, remained high. Bodies of two pollsters from ruling MORENA party were found dead in Tabasco state 1 Oct, alongside message from Jalisco Cartel accusing MORENA and army of protecting rival Sinaloa Cartel in Chiapas. Guerrero state (south west) witnessed several high-profile attacks. Notably, unidentified gunmen 17 Oct killed prominent self-defence group leader Bruno Plácido and his driver in state capital Chilpancingo; and armed men 18 Oct attacked priest and victims’ rights activist Filiberto Velázquez in Tixtla town. Attacks came after 1,500 members of 66 communities from San Miguel Totolapan and Heliodoro Castillo municipalities 3 Oct announced creation of armed self-defence group amid state inertia. Three separate attacks in Coyuca de Benitez municipality (Guerrero), Tacámbaro town (Michoacán state) and San Miguel Cano (Puebla state) 23 Oct left at least 24 dead, including 13 police officers.
State faced more criticism for high number of disappearances. UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances 3 Oct lamented “alarming” number of disappearances in Mexico and “almost absolute impunity”. Group of experts investigating 2014 disappearance of students from Ayotzinapa teacher’s college 17 Oct released documents allegedly showing military had knowledge of crime as it unfolded; govt continued to deny military’s involvement or collusion. Meanwhile, search collective 2 Oct said clandestine burial site found in Tacámbaro likely contains more than the 51 bodies already found, largest identified in state in recent years; another collective 15 Oct reported discovery of clandestine human incineration site containing human remains in Tlaquepaque city, Jalisco state (centre).
In other important developments. Govt and U.S. officials 5 Oct held high-level security talks in Mexico City about fentanyl trafficking, migration and arms trafficking, and agreed to collaborate closely. Acapulco city (along Pacific Coast) was among areas worst hit by Hurricane Otis late Oct, raising fears that organised crime could capitalise on destruction and insufficient govt response to strengthen foothold in area.
El crimen organizado en México se ha vuelto local, debido a la fragmentación de los carteles en subgrupos que luchan por el control de territorios cada vez más pequeños. Al mismo tiempo, el gobierno federal ha marginado a las alcaldías de sus competencias en materia de seguridad. Es necesario volver a empoderar a los funcionarios municipales para que protejan a la población.
A medida que aumenta la delincuencia en México, las mujeres corren un particular riesgo de ser víctimas de “desapariciones”, secuestros, agresiones sexuales y asesinatos. El Estado ha tomado algunas medidas para abordar esta crisis, pero puede hacer mucho más.
Mexico's crime wars are hottest in the hinterland. In this photo essay, part of a larger project on deadly violence in Latin America, Crisis Group expert Falko Ernst explains that the fronts are ever-shifting and the distinctions among combatants wafer-thin.
Uno de los negocios más lucrativos para el crimen organizado en México consiste en robar combustible y venderlo en el mercado negro. La violencia, al igual que las ganancias, está en ascenso. El gobierno ha logrado frenar este comercio, pero debe hacer frente a la colusión oficial y los problemas socioeconómicos que lo perpetúan.
Estas elecciones en México han sido testigo de múltiples asesinatos, ya que el crimen organizado busca reforzar su influencia. El gobierno tiene que seguir intentando romper los lazos entre grupos criminales y las autoridades, empezando por esfuerzos adaptados a las zonas más afectadas del país.
This week on Hold Your Fire!, Naz Modirzadeh, Richard Atwood and Ivan Briscoe, Crisis Group’s Latin America Director, talk about COVID-19’s devastation, polarisation and populism in the region, as well as the Venezuela crisis and violence in Mexico.
La devastación económica por el COVID-19 probablemente hará de México y el Triángulo Norte un terreno aun más fértil para los carteles de la droga y las pandillas. En este extracto de nuestro Watch List 2021, Crisis Group insta a la UE y a sus Estados miembros a desalentar las políticas de mano dura y, en cambio, ayudar a diseñar estrategias locales de seguridad.
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