The devastating news of Chilpancingo Mayor Alejandro Arcos’ murder has sent shockwaves across Mexico, a country plagued by violence and cartel activity.
Arcos, who took office just last Monday, was found dead less than a week into his tenure.
This heinous crime has sparked widespread condemnation, with Guerrero State Governor Evelyn Salgado expressing her outrage on social media, calling it “indignation”.
Unfortunately, Arcos’ murder is not an isolated incident. Another city official, Francisco Tapia, was killed just days prior. PRI President Alejandro Moreno lamented the loss of these young, honest officials who sought progress for their community. “They had been in office for less than a week… Enough of violence and impunity! The people of Guerrero do not deserve to live in fear,” Moreno stated.
Guerrero, one of Mexico’s poorest states, has been ravaged by turf wars between cartels vying for control of drug production and trafficking. Last year, a staggering 1,890 murders were recorded in the state, which is home to the once-thriving resort city of Acapulco. The violence has become entrenched, with over 450,000 people killed and tens of thousands missing since the government deployed the army to combat drug trafficking in 2006.
Mexico’s newly sworn-in President Claudia Sheinbaum faces the daunting challenge of tackling cartel violence. Sheinbaum has pledged to continue her predecessor’s “hugs not bullets” strategy, focusing on social policy to address the root causes of crime. Her security plan is set to be unveiled on Tuesday. With at least 24 politicians murdered during the recent electoral process, the need for effective action has never been more urgent.
