What Is Happening In Mexico Right Now: Matches Postponed and Violence After El Mencho's Death
what is happening in mexico right now centers on a federal operation that fatally wounded Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, nicknamed El Mencho, and a wave of retaliatory attacks that have disrupted sport and travel across multiple states. The developments have prompted match postponements, mass roadblocks and official pleas for calm as authorities and event organisers weigh security for coming fixtures.
What Is Happening In Mexico Right Now: the raid that killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes
Authorities attempted to capture Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes in the western state of Jalisco on Sunday; the raid led to a firefight that fatally wounded the leader of the Jalisco Nueva Generación cartel and killed six of his accomplices. He was wounded in Tapalpa, Jalisco, about a two-hour drive southwest of Guadalajara, and he died while being flown to Mexico City.
Retaliation: roadblocks, arson and reported casualties
Following his death, cartel members burned cars and blocked roads in nearly a dozen Mexican states. Mexico’s security minister, Omar García Harfuch, said retaliatory cartel attacks since the raid have killed 25 members of the National Guard and one security guard; he also said 30 cartel operatives were killed, as well as one bystander. President Claudia Sheinbaum urged calm, and authorities said more than 250 cartel roadblocks across 20 states had been cleared.
Sporting calendar disrupted: postponed matches and events continuing
Four high-level soccer matches were postponed on Sunday: two top-tier games — Queretaro vs. Juarez FC in the men’s tournament and Chivas vs. America in the women’s league — and two second-division matches were called off. Mexico’s national team has a friendly against Iceland scheduled for Wednesday at the Corregidora stadium in Queretaro; the Mexican soccer federation has not made any public moves to postpone it and the team was training as planned on Monday ahead of the game. The Mexican Open, an ATP tennis tournament, will begin Monday at the GNP Arena in Acapulco, Guerrero, and organisers issued a statement Sunday saying that "the tournament's operation continues as normal. " World soccer’s governing body has requested a status report on security from the Mexican federation ahead of its events; the inter-confederation playoff for two of the remaining six World Cup spots is set to be played in Guadalajara and Monterrey in March. Jalisco’s capital, Guadalajara, is scheduled to host four World Cup games in June, including two involving South Korea, and co-host Mexico, Spain, Uruguay and Colombia will also play there.
Cities on edge: Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta and airports
In Puerto Vallarta, authorities issued public advice to stay indoors when violence erupted; videos showed cars and buildings ablaze with tourists walking on the beach as smoke rose in the distance. In nearby Guadalajara, streets were almost empty on Sunday as fearful residents stayed home. More than 1, 000 people were stuck in Guadalajara’s zoo overnight, the zoo director, Luis Soto Rendón, said, and he added, "We decided to let people stay inside the zoo for their safety" and that "there are small children and senior citizens" among those sheltered. Rumours spread that large airports were shut after videos showed people running for cover in airport halls; the government said some flights had been diverted and that the airports in Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta and Tepic were operating normally.
Power of the CJNG, official statements and uncertainty about what comes next
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel is considered the most powerful in Mexico, with an estimated 19, 000 members and operations spanning 21 of the country’s 32 states. The group has been designated a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration. El Mencho, 59, had been one of the world’s most wanted drug traffickers. Defence minister Ricardo Trevilla said information leading to the capture and death stemmed from a romantic partner. David Mora, Mexico analyst for International Crisis Group, said he expected to see violence spike, noting that "El Mencho was a very powerful figure who ran a very centralised organisation. There is no clear direct heir or successor, " which could create a struggle for control while other cartels may seize the moment. The ministry of foreign affairs released a statement Monday asserting, "In Mexico, the rule of law prevails, and under the leadership of President Claudia Sheinbaum, work continues every day to ensure security and wellbeing in our country. " It is unclear if the violence will continue.
