Assailants recently fired gunshots at a building housing the newspaper El Debate in Sinaloa, Mexico. The newspaper is based in Culiacan, where rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel have been engaged in bloody battles. The Mexican Media Alliance condemned the attack as a direct assault on press freedom. The assailants arrived in two vehicles, with one gunman opening fire on the building with a rifle. Threats against journalists and their sources have escalated due to ongoing factional fighting within the cartel.
Two Sinaloa drug capos, Ismael Zambada and Joaquín Guzmán López, were arrested in the United States after flying there on a small plane on July 25. This led to a violent battle between Zambada’s faction and the “Chapitos” group, led by the sons of imprisoned drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán. Journalists have reported being stopped by gunmen on roadways outside Culiacan, preventing them from covering the ongoing gunbattles. In 2017, reporter Javier Valdez was killed in Sinaloa, highlighting the risks journalists face in the region.
Amid the ongoing violence, local residents have turned to social media for news on safety. Videos of burning vehicles, bodies, and cartel convoys have circulated on social media platforms. Governor Rocha has claimed that “everything is under control,” despite canceling in-person classes due to violence in the state capital. The Sinaloa Red Cross denied reports of paramedics being kidnapped, emphasizing that they remain neutral in the conflict. State prosecutors have faced challenges, with the chief prosecutor resigning over false information related to a killing.
The situation in Sinaloa has led to comparisons to war, with military helicopters and gunmen filmed engaging in violent encounters. The municipal force in Culiacan has been temporarily disarmed by soldiers amid suspicions of collusion with drug cartels. President Sheinbaum condemned the attack on El Debate and stated that investigations are ongoing. The ongoing violence in Sinaloa has created a climate of fear and uncertainty, with journalists and residents at risk. The increasing threats against press freedom underscore the challenges faced by media outlets in reporting on cartel activities.
As the violence in Sinaloa continues, the risks for journalists reporting on cartel activities become increasingly severe. The attack on El Debate is a stark example of the dangers faced by media professionals in the region. Government authorities have been criticized for downplaying the violence, while social media has become a primary source of information for residents. The ongoing battles between rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel have had far-reaching consequences, impacting the safety and security of journalists and civilians in the state. Press freedom is under threat, with journalists being targeted for their reporting on cartel activities.
