The mayor of Chilpancingo, Guerrero, Mexico, Alejandro Arcos, was brutally murdered less than a week after taking office. Photos circulating online showed his severed head on top of a truck and his body in a car in the Villas del Roble neighborhood. The mayor was decapitated, sparking fear and unease among residents. This incident was confirmed by state prosecutors, but no details were provided. The violence in Chilpancingo is attributed to turf battles between local drug gangs Ardillos and Tlacos.
Arcos’s murder came shortly after the shooting of the city government’s new secretary, Francisco Tapia, just three days prior. The national leader of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, Alejandro Moreno, called for federal authorities to take charge of the investigation due to Guerrero’s “ungovernability”. Arcos and Tapia were described as young and honest public servants dedicated to improving their community. The violence in the city has disrupted daily life, with residents choosing to stay indoors after 9 pm and schools suspending classes.
In addition to the murders of Arcos and Tapia, at least six candidates running for public office were killed in Guerrero leading up to the June elections. Arcos had faced smear campaigns linking him to the Ardillos drug gang during his election campaign, which he won by a narrow margin. Guerrero has a history of political violence, with several mayors being murdered throughout the year. The current mayor is the third to be killed in Guerrero in 2021.
Despite the ongoing violence, Arcos had been focused on disaster relief efforts following Hurricane John, which caused severe flooding in Acapulco and surrounding areas. He had also been meeting with residents and relief workers in the hours leading up to his death. The new mayor’s social media posts showcased his dedication to serving his community and his commitment to progress. These deaths highlight the challenges faced by public officials in Guerrero, where violence and corruption are rampant.
In response to the escalating violence, Mexico’s new president, Claudia Sheinbaum, has made pacifying the country a top priority. At least 37 candidates were killed in the months leading up to the general election, prompting many others to drop out due to death threats. Sheinbaum has proposed strategies to reduce killings in the country’s 10 deadliest cities, including Acapulco. The current climate of fear and instability in Guerrero and other regions of Mexico underscores the urgent need for stronger measures to address violence and ensure the safety of public officials and residents.
