In the violence-torn southern state of Chiapas, Mexico, at least 14 people have been killed in attacks targeting political candidates in recent days. One of the recent attacks targeted Nicolás Noriega, who is running for leadership in the town of Mapastepec under the ruling party Morena. Noriega confirmed the attack and stated that he was wounded, with at least five people from his campaign fatally shot. The Chiapas Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the attack and photos showed a red truck with bullet holes and bodies on the ground. Noriega expressed his mourning for his friends who were killed and called for unity to honor life amidst the violence.
The violence in Chiapas is part of a larger trend in Mexico, where the country’s two main cartels are fighting for control of the border with Guatemala, a crucial route for migrant and drug smuggling. This violence has escalated ahead of the June 2 elections, with armed groups targeting candidates and terrorizing civilians. Data Civica reported that at least 134 people have been killed in politically motivated attacks this year, including 24 political candidates. The recent attack on a campaign rally left six people dead, including a young girl and mayoral candidate Lucero López Maza, with two others wounded.
Morena candidate Robertony Orozco was also targeted in an attack near Chiapas, resulting in three deaths and two injuries, including Orozco himself. The Chiapas Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the attack and has provided Orozco with security. This violence is not isolated, as 11 civilians were killed in the same area in May and the Morena presidential candidate, Claudia Sheinbaum, was intercepted by masked men in April during a tour of the Guatemala border. Because of its strategic location, Chiapas is one of the states in Mexico with the highest levels of electoral violence, trailing behind Guerrero and Michoacán, two states at the center of cartel warfare.
The surge in violence in Chiapas has raised concerns and posed a challenge for President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who visited the state for a meeting with Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo. Despite the violence, López Obrador has been reluctant to confront the drug cartels and has downplayed the issue of violence, stating that the problem is localized to certain regions and will be resolved. However, the attacks on political candidates and the rising death toll indicate a more widespread issue of violence and instability in Chiapas. The situation highlights the challenges of maintaining security and stability in Mexico, particularly in regions where cartel activity and political violence intersect.
