In a tragic and alarming series of incidents, at least 22 individuals, including a dozen police officers, lost their lives in a day of intense violence in central and southwestern Mexico, according to authorities.
The most severe attack unfolded in Guerrero state’s municipality of Coyuca de Benitez, where unidentified assailants targeted a security patrol, resulting in the deaths of 11 municipal police officers. This grim incident brought the total number of officers killed this year to over 340, as reported by the non-profit group Causa en Comun.
Prosecutor Alejandro Hernandez stated that authorities are actively investigating the motive behind the attack in Guerrero, an impoverished state that has become a hotspot for violence between drug traffickers and law enforcement.
In the neighbouring state of Michoacan, gunmen attacked and killed five people, specifically targeting the brother of a local mayor. The mayor’s brother sustained injuries in the assault, and the bodies of the five victims, including a police officer, were discovered on a highway in Tacambaro.
The third violent incident involved a gun battle between alleged drug dealers in Puebla, resulting in at least six deaths and two individuals wounded, according to the regional government. The clash occurred in the rural community of San Miguel Canoa, approximately 120 km (75 miles) from Mexico City.
Mexico continues to grapple with the devastating impact of cartel-linked crime, with over 420,000 people murdered since the initiation of the government’s “war on drugs” in 2006. The murder rate has tripled to 25 per 100,000 inhabitants, and more than 110,000 disappearances have been recorded since 1962, mostly attributed to criminal organisations.
Guerrero and Michoacan, known for frequent clashes between rival drug traffickers and security forces, remain among the most turbulent regions in the country. The surge in violence, particularly targeting low-level officials, is a concerning development in the lead-up to the upcoming presidential polls in June 2024.
Experts describe the sudden burst of violence as “extraordinary,” even considering the country’s historical context. Falko Ernst, an analyst at the International Crisis Group, noted, “Guerrero has long seen one of Mexico’s most complicated armed conflicts, but the current, pre-electoral levels of violence are extraordinary.”
President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s approach of advocating for a “hugs not bullets” strategy to address violent crime, focusing on tackling underlying causes through social programs rather than military force, faces renewed scrutiny in the wake of this surge in bloodshed.
