CHILPANCINGO, Mexico: The assassination of Acacio Flores, mayor of Malinaltepec in Guerrero state, marks the second killing of a mayor in southern Mexico within a week.
His body was found with a gunshot wound in a van after visiting an indigenous community, following the recent murder of Salvador Villalba Flores. The incidents highlight escalating political violence in the region, with human rights activists suggesting a possible connection to land disputes. Guerrero, a state plagued by drug cartel violence, recorded nearly 1,900 murders in 2023 alone.
The killings underscore ongoing security challenges during Mexico’s campaign season, where over 30 political candidates have been murdered since September, according to Data Civica.
