In recent weeks, Sinaloa, a northern state in Mexico, has seen a spike in violence resulting in at least 30 fatalities due to clashes between two factions of the powerful Sinaloa cartel, according to authorities. Even with over 2,000 security personnel present, including two military members who lost their lives in the fighting since September 9, the violence persists. The conflict escalated after Joaquín Guzmán López, the son of former Sinaloa cartel leader Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, and Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada landed near El Paso, Texas back in July.
Zambada, a prominent figure within the cartel, was reportedly abducted by Guzmán and taken to the United States against his will, leading to a power struggle between Guzmán’s sons, known as “the Chapitos,” and Zambada’s loyalists. The ongoing clashes in Culiacan, the state capital, exemplify the relentless violence plaguing Mexico, with cartels utilizing sophisticated warfare tactics like roadside bombs, trenches, homemade armored vehicles, and bomb-dropping drones.
The upheaval has caused a partial shutdown of Culiacan, with fear gripping the population, resulting in empty schools, closed businesses, and limited transportation options. To address the escalating situation, 2,200 armed forces and National Guard members were deployed to Sinaloa, with the possibility of further military reinforcement not being ruled out. While Governor Rubén Rocha suspended schools and Independence Day celebrations to ensure public safety, outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador emphasized the Armed Forces’ role in protecting civilians and preventing clashes between criminal factions.
Throughout his tenure, López Obrador has promoted a strategy of “hugs not bullets,” aiming to address the root causes of criminal behavior by offering alternative opportunities to at-risk youth. Despite criticism for his approach that prioritizes social programs over direct confrontation with cartels, López Obrador’s successor, President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, intends to continue the existing security policy. The focus remains on de-escalating the violence and safeguarding the population in regions affected by cartel conflicts.
