Violence continued unabated, including, in Veracruz state (south), where group of at least 30 armed men 20 Nov murdered mayor-elect of Hidalgotitlan municipality; unidentified gunmen 24 Nov killed mayor of Ixhuatlan de Madero with four others near state capital Xalapa. Special Veracruz prosecutor investigating gender-based and sexual violence was murdered in Pánuco 27 Nov. In Baja California Sur, state ombudsman was murdered 20 Nov in city of La Paz; another 28 people were killed in city of Los Cabos previous weekend 18-20 Nov. University of Texas 6 Nov and El Colegio de Mexico 21 Nov released reports on Los Zetas cartel’s penetration of Coahuila and Veracruz state govts, including reports of bribery of former governors and army officers. National Commission on Human Rights 1 Nov said 150 overpopulated prisons in eight states are “time bombs” that could spark riots and major violence; commission next day called on federal govt to end impunity for crimes against journalists and provide additional resources for their protection. New report from Washington Office for Latin America (WOLA) 8 Nov revealed that only sixteen out of 505 open cases of alleged human rights violations by Mexican armed forces between 2012 and 2016 led to court sentences. President Peña Nieto 16 Nov signed into law new measures against enforced disappearances, including creation of national commission on disappearances and $25mn funding for search efforts. Media 2 Nov reported opposition dropped attempts to reinstate special prosecutor for electoral crimes, who was dismissed late Oct for publically discussing ongoing investigation of Peña Nieto’s electoral campaign members allegedly involved in corruption scandal.

Criminal and political violence continued unabated across much of country. In Tamaulipas state (east), cities of Reynosa and Río Bravo saw confrontations between two criminal organisations, army and state police 15-17 Oct, resulting in death of four presumed criminals, one civilian and three unidentified victims, and cities under virtual siege. In Guerrero state (south), 50-strong armed commando group 4 Oct attacked police, killing two and kidnapping four policemen in Xochipala. NGOs in Guerrero state requested support from state and federal govts regarding increase in reported homicide rates and forced displacement of 530 families due to violence. Reported violence increased in Veracruz (south), including three killed in Minatitlán-Coatzacoalcos and two murdered in bar in Las Choapas 15-17 Oct; four gas pipeline workers shot dead in San Luis Potosí 17 Oct. In Puebla state (south), mayor Manuel Hernández Pasión killed in alleged politically-motivated attack 10 Oct. New armed group Cártel Santa Rosa de Lima emerged in Guanajuato state (centre), 18 Oct declared war on Jalisco New Generation Cartel via social media. Deadly attacks on journalists continued: Edgar Esqueda, reporter from San Luis Potosí, kidnapped 5 Oct, found dead next day with signs of torture; unidentified gunmen 16 Oct shot and injured Cecilia Méndez, radio presenter in Zapopan, Jalisco state (south west). In Guerrero, unidentified armed assailants kidnapped and killed former leftist major of Zitlala 13 Oct; prominent human rights activist Ranferi Hernández Acevedo killed along with wife and mother-in-law 14 Oct. National statistics agency INEGI published data 17 Oct showing 76% of citizens questioned in national poll said their cities insecure. Weekly newspaper Proceso 10 Oct reported over 400 criminal groups resulting from fragmentation of criminal organisations, up from just six in 2007. National Commission of Human Rights called on govt to act promptly on 10,262 refugee requests, mostly from Northern Triangle countries, representing 578% increase from 2016.

Criminal violence, attacks against human right activists, migrants and journalists, new corruption allegations against President Peña Nieto’s administration and national discussion on violence against women dominated security concerns during month. Governor of Guanajuato state (centre) established sole military command of state police 14 Sept after Jalisco New Generation Cartel, in clashes with Zetas, murdered five policemen and two others in Apaseo el Alto 4 Sept; three policemen in Coroneo 7 Sept; and former mayor of Pueblo Nuevo 5 Sept. Commando killed five people in bar in Irapuato (Guanajuato) 13 Sept; journalist Juan Carlos Hernandez Ríos from Guanajuato murdered 5 Sept; three decapitated bodies abandoned in public park in capital of Veracruz state (south east) 13 Sept. Rights activist Jerry Barceló murdered in Tabasco state (south east) 2 Sept; NGO network Red Todos los Derechos para Todas y Todos 5 Sept reported 106 rights activists killed since 2012, 81 victims of forced disappearance, over 1,000 attacked. Detectives collaborating with organisation representing families of victims of disappearance 15 Sept reported discovery of 149,000 fragments of human bodies in mass grave in García, Nuevo León (north east). More than 400 people killed by two earthquakes: first on 8 Sept, killing around 100 in southern states Oaxaca, Chiapas, and Tabasco; second 19 Sept killing at least 340 people, many in capital. U.S. President Trump’s 5 Sept announcement of his decision to end policy deferring deportation of children of undocumented migrants exacerbated bilateral tensions.

Clashes between factions of criminal organisations and security forces reported in states of Tamaulipas (north east), Michoacán (south west), Chihuahua (north west) and in Mexico City during month. Amid ongoing clashes between factions of Gulf Cartel in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, state police office attacked by grenades 11 Aug; authorities reported road blocks and shootouts 15 Aug; state police attacked close to Ciudad Madera, Chihuahua, 16 Aug. Attorney general’s office 3 Aug announced investigation into 3 Aug shootout in Mexico City’s Tepito neighbourhood in which one person was killed and six wounded; comes amid concern over increasing crime and insecurity in capital during first half of 2017. Authorities found new mass graves including one containing 300 human remains in Tijuana, Baja California state (west) 16 Aug; small mass graves also found in Acapulco (Guerrero), Valparaiso (Zacatecas) and Pantanal (Nayarit). Media 1 Aug reported murder of journalist Luciano Rivera Delgado in Tijuana; murder of Cándido Ríos Vázquez 22 August in Veracruz fuelled outrage; Article 19 NGO published report documenting 276 attacks against journalists during first half of 2017. Think-tank Ethos Laboratorio de Políticas Públicas 11 Aug published report arguing that 60% increase in security budget 2008-2015 had failed to reduce homicide rates or judicial impunity, 99% of crimes still going unpunished. President of National Commission for Human Rights 17 Aug asked president for plan to return Army and Navy to normal activities and leave public security to civilian police. U.S. Treasury Department 9 Aug designated 21 Mexican citizens and 43 companies part of money laundering operations of drug trafficking organisation led by Raúl Flores Hernández, ordered freezing of their assets in U.S.; list includes Rafael Márquez, captain of national football team.

Continued killings related to organised crime included 30 murders reported in Sinaloa state (north west) 1 July, mostly related to fragmentation of Sinaloa cartel and militarisation of region; nineteen occurred in single confrontation between security forces and suspected gang members in Villa Unión. Nine killed in Huehuetlán el Grande, Puebla state (centre) 2-3 July; 26 killed in clash between police and members of “La Línea” and Sinaloa Cartel in La Varas, Chihuahua (north west) 5 July; eleven killed at party in Tizayuca, Hidalgo (centre) 13 July. In Mexico City, five suspected gang members killed in clash with marines 20 July and five people killed in separate shootings 23 July; official figures revealed May-June 2017 as deadliest two-month period recorded in capital with 206 murders. Month also saw resurgence in self-defence groups. José Manuel Mireles Valverde, former self-defence leader in Michoacán (south west), 11 July called for self-defence groups to assemble in Tepalcatepec city, demanded armed forces withdraw; reports emerged of subsequent confrontation and tensions between local population and armed forces. Twenty people wounded in Tlatempanapa, Guerrero 15 July when army tried to disarm self-defence group. Local residents announced creation of self-defence groups in Vallecito de Zaragoza, Guerrero 16 July and Chiapas highlands 18 July; Mexico City mayor 18 July denied rumours of self-defence group in capital. Interior minister 18 July said self-defence groups would not be tolerated. NGO Redodem 5 July denounced increase since 2016 in crimes against immigrants, especially in Chiapas (south) and Guanajuato (centre). Edwin Rivera Paz, Honduran journalist living in Acayucan, Veracruz (south east) assassinated 9 July. UN human rights chief 10 July denounced reported torture 3-5 July of ten civilians by municipal police in Aguascalientes (centre).

Govt homicide statistics revealed figures for May highest since modern crime records began in 1997, with 2,186 homicides, as violence related to organised crime continued unabated; first five months of 2017 saw 30% year-on-year increase, with 9,916 murders. Murders in June included incidents in Sinaloa state (north west); Tamaulipas state (north east); Guerrero state (south west), including five policemen murdered in different cities 1 June; neighbouring Michoacán state, where regional chief of federal police Enrique Rodríguez was murdered 13 June. Four federal police killed in clash with commando group in San Andrés Totoloapan south of Mexico City 19 June. One person killed and four injured in shootouts in Cancún, Quintana Roo state (east), 15 June. NGO Colectivo Solecito reported discovery 6 June of new mass graves in Veracruz state (south east); mass grave found in San José del Cabo in Baja California Sur state (west) 8 June containing eighteen bodies. Violence against journalists, indigenous leaders, Central American immigrants, and human rights defenders continued, including: indigenous journalist Marcela de Jesús Natalia injured in attack in Guerrero state 3 June; journalist Salvador Adame, kidnapped in May, found dead in Michoacán state 26 June. Leaders of Wixárrika indigenous community 10 June denounced intimidation from organised crime in Jalisco state (south west). Under Secretary for Human Rights Roberto Campa 20 June denied attacks against journalists were escalating, angering journalists and opposition.

Number of reported homicides, already during first four months of 2017 at levels unseen since peak of 2011, continued to cause alarm as further fragmentation of organised criminal gangs fuelled violence in Tamaulipas state (north east) and Pacific Coast states of Sinaloa (north west), Guerrero and Michoacán (south west). Intra-cartel violence included 31 soldiers, marines and civilians killed in clashes 1-17 May following April murder of Juan Manuel Loza Salinas, leader of the Gulf Cartel in Reynosa, Tamaulipas. Eight killed in confrontation between Tequileros and Familia Michoacana cartels 12 May in Tierra Caliente, Guerrero; army and police response led to social unrest and protests, blocking over 24 federal highways. After 18 May arrest of 22 alleged Knight Templar cartel members, criminal groups blocked five highways in Michoacán’s Tierra Caliente region. Attacks on journalists escalated throughout country, with two murdered, seven detained and robbed, one kidnapped, one wounded during month. In Sinaloa, murder of three teachers, lawyer and journalist in first half May generated widespread outrage; killing of journalist Javier Valdez sparked protests and renewed govt commitment to protect journalists and rights activists, greeted by some with incredulity. Month also saw murders of human rights defender Miriam Rodríguez from San Fernando, Tamaulipas; two indigenous wixárika activists in Jalisco state (south west); and indigenous tzotzil leader in Puebla state (SE of Mexico City). Former partner of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, who later became main competitor of El Chapo’s sons for leadership of Sinaloa Cartel, arrested in Mexico City 2 May. Ten people including four soldiers killed in clashes in Palmarito, Puebla 3 May, after military tried to stop illegal tapping of pipeline belonging to state-controlled Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex). Video emerged showing soldier shooting prisoner in apparent extrajudicial killing during clashes. Senators supporting Internal Security Law, which would extend legal powers of armed forces in public security matters, 10 May proposed extraordinary sessions to approve bill, arguing it would prevent illegal behaviour by military. Army 15 May detained 60 municipal police in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, over suspected membership of criminal organisation involved in April killing of Democratic Revolution Party leader. International Institute for Strategic Studies think-tank 9 May reported Mexico second most lethal conflict after Syria in 2016, with 23,000 homicides related to criminal violence; govt disputed figures.

Amid ongoing violence, officials 23 April reported at least 35 people killed in gang-related violence in single weekend, including twelve in Sinaloa state, nine in gun battle in Michoacán state. In Guerrero, authorities registered 21 murders 8 and 9 April alone, while Democratic Revolution Party leader Demetrio Saldivar was killed by unknown persons in Chilpancingo 19 April. Authorities recorded 2,020 murders in March, highest monthly figure since peak year 2011. In Morelos state, attorney general’s office stated they had found 57 human remains in Jojutla mass grave 4 April. National Commission on Human Rights in 6 April report revealed local attorney offices officially recognised 855 mass graves and disinterred remains of 1,548 corpses 2007-2016; also reported official number of disappeared persons has reached 30,000. Human Rights NGOs 4 April reported that since 2009 at least 310,000 people have been forcibly displaced because of violence. Legislative period ended 30 April without conclusive discussion on Internal Security Law due to criticisms over lack of check and balances for armed forces in their proposed public security responsibilities; followed further incident of alleged involvement of armed forces in extrajudicial killings of two U.S. tourists in Tamaulipas 4 April; Navy denied allegations it was involved in killings. Violence against Central American immigrants, women, journalists and human rights/indigenous defenders continued. Six immigrants from Honduras kidnapped, tortured and mutilated in Veracruz 3 April. Norte newspaper from Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, 5 April announced it was closing, citing impossible working conditions for independent journalists as result of criminal violence. Journalist Max Rodríguez Palacios, from La Paz, Baja California, killed 14 April. Former Veracruz Governor Javier Duarte, wanted on corruption and organised crime charges, arrested in Guatemala 15 April; former Tamaulipas Governor Tomás Yarrington, wanted on corruption and organised crime charges in Mexico and U.S., arrested in Italy 9 April.

Vicious cycle of corruption, violence, militarisation and weakening civil institutions continued in Veracruz state as criminal organisations vie for control; main battle is between Jalisco New Generation Cartel, fragmented remnants of Zetas and weakened Sinaloa Cartel, on one hand, and armed forces and federal police on the other. Interior minister 28 Feb announced new deployments of Federal Police with support of Navy and Army; eleven corpses found with threatening message next day, coinciding with visit to state by President Peña Nieto. Investigation began 14 March of large mass grave in Colinas de Santa Fé outside Veracruz city, containing hundreds of bodies apparently of students; another mass grave with 47 skulls found in Alvarado 19 March. Four murders reported around state capital Xalapa 23 March. State prosecutor 12 March announced arrest of Flavino Ríos, former interim governor, who allegedly assisted escape of former governor Javier Duarte, currently fleeing corruption charges. National television 16 March aired social media video purportedly showing four municipal police in Culiacán, Sinaloa state, handing eight people to presumed members of organised crime group. Sinaloa governor 19 March acknowledged five high ranking Sinaloa cartel members had escaped from Culiacán prison with help from prison officials. March saw increase in reported disappearances, particularly in Jalisco. Attacks on press and human rights advocates continued: three journalists among those killed during month. Chiapas peasant organisations 6 March protested disappearance of activists and recent murder of thirteen-year-old Humberto Morales Sántiz. U.S. immigration lawyers confirmed exodus of indigenous activists and members of Rarámuri communities seeking asylum in U.S. to avoid death or forced recruitment threats by organised crime groups in Chihuahua. Chihuahua state prosecutor ordered arrest on corruption charges of former governor César Duarte, who allegedly escaped to Texas.

Inter- and intra- criminal organisation killings intensified following Jan extradition of Joaquín “el Chapo” Guzmán to U.S.. Dámaso “El Licenciado” López and Guzmán’s sons Iván Archivaldo and Alfredo reportedly fighting to gain control of Sinaloa, while fighting continues between Sinaloa and Beltrán Leyva and other criminal organisations for control of Sinaloa illegal drug production and Pacific trafficking routes to U.S.. Over 200 murders reported since 1 Jan in Sinaloa alone. Marines 9 Feb killed twelve suspected members of Beltrán Leyva, including their reputed leader in Nayarit and parts of Jalisco. U.S. 12 Feb leaked information on growing power of Jalisco New Generation Cartel in battle to control trafficking through Ciudad Juárez and U.S. drugs trade. Defence Minister Salvador Cienfuegos 12 Feb announced more military deployments for Sinaloa security strategy, despite recent evidence showing military strategies increase violence rates. PRI deputies 13 Feb tried to fast-track new Internal Security Law to provide legal framework for military use of force and involvement in public security and prosecutorial activities; National Commission for Human Rights, scholars and civil society organisations 14 Feb made successful call for further discussion of bill. Official crime data showed 2016 violence involving organised criminal groups and federal operations fighting them reached levels comparable to worst years of govt’s “war” on drugs and crime launched in 2006. Human rights organisations 5 Feb denounced Marines’ alleged kidnapping of five members of community police force in indigenous town Santa María Ostula before handing them over to Knight Templars; two more kidnapped two days later, released in exchange for weapons. Attacks on press and human rights advocates continued; indigenous Choréachi community in Chihuahua 1 Feb revealed murder of indigenous rights defender Juan Ontiveros Ramos. FM Luis Videgaray voiced concerns to his visiting U.S. counterpart Rex Tillerson late Feb over new U.S. policies, including to expel to Mexico all illegal immigrants crossing border regardless of nationality.