Mexico cartel violence has pushed thousands of people onto the streets of Culiacán, where residents, relatives of missing people, businesses and civil society groups marched to demand an end to a conflict that has devastated communities across Sinaloa.
Wearing white and carrying photographs of missing loved ones, protesters called for peace during a demonstration held two years after a bitter split within the Sinaloa cartel triggered a wave of shootings, disappearances, extortion and criminal roadblocks.
Mexico cartel violence drives Culiacán peace march
The march took place in Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa, a northern Mexican state home to more than three million people. Many residents say daily life has been transformed by fear since two rival factions began fighting for control.
The groups, known as Los Chapitos and La Mayiza, have reportedly carried out ambushes, drive-by shootings and attacks involving hijacked trucks. Some vehicles have been set on fire and used to block roads, leaving residents trapped and businesses struggling to operate.
Placards carried during the march included messages calling for peace rather than fear. Relatives of people reported missing joined the procession, highlighting the personal cost of the conflict and the uncertainty faced by families searching for answers.
Families demand answers for missing relatives
The protest was organised by victims’ families, local business representatives, civil society organisations and the Catholic Church. It began with a Mass, during which the bishop of Culiacán urged the rival factions to stop placing power, money and territory above human life.
The emotional appeal came after the death of a one-year-old child who was reportedly struck in the head by a bullet during a shootout in the city the previous week. The case has intensified public anger and underscored how violence affects people who are not involved in organised crime.
For families of missing people, the march also served as a public demand for investigations and accountability. Disappearances have risen alongside killings, while residents have also reported increased extortion and robbery, according to official figures cited in coverage of the crisis.
Businesses and communities face mounting losses
The cartel conflict has caused serious economic disruption. Businessman Sergio Esquer told AFP that more than 5,000 businesses had closed since the feud began, describing the closures as part of Sinaloa’s wider tragedy.
When roads are blocked and gun battles occur in populated areas, employees may be unable to travel and customers stay at home. Small businesses are particularly vulnerable because they often lack the resources to absorb prolonged closures or demands for extortion payments.
The consequences extend beyond commerce. Families have altered routines, schools and public spaces can feel unsafe, and many residents have been forced to make decisions based on rumours of attacks or roadblocks. The result is a climate of insecurity that affects the whole city.
Why the Sinaloa cartel factions are fighting
The conflict began after the arrest of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada in the United States. His supporters, identified as La Mayiza, accused Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán’s son and his allies, Los Chapitos, of betraying him. That accusation reportedly triggered the violent confrontation between the factions.
The dispute has since developed into a prolonged struggle involving armed attacks and territorial control. Residents of Culiacán have been caught between the competing groups, with civilians bearing the consequences of a conflict they did not create.
Political pressure adds to Sinaloa crisis
Sinaloa’s security emergency has unfolded alongside political upheaval. US prosecutors have accused Governor Rubén Rocha and nine current or former officials of conspiring with Los Chapitos to smuggle drugs into the United States. Rocha has denied wrongdoing.
Mexican prosecutors opened their own investigation, and the governor temporarily stepped aside before returning to office. He later requested another leave of absence after President Claudia Sheinbaum posted a message warning that power without principles can become arrogance.
The allegations have added pressure to authorities already facing public anger over killings, disappearances and the perceived inability to restore order. The political controversy has also raised questions about whether institutions can investigate organised crime allegations independently and effectively.
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What happens next in Culiacán?
The peace march demonstrated that many residents want security, reliable investigations and an end to impunity. However, rebuilding trust will require more than a single protest. Authorities must protect communities, investigate disappearances, support victims and prevent criminal groups from controlling public roads and local economies.
The scale of the violence also means that families and businesses need sustained support. For relatives of missing people, progress will be measured by credible searches and answers. For residents, it will be measured by whether they can travel, work and raise their children without fear of becoming caught in gunfire.
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Conclusion
The Mexico cartel violence crisis has turned ordinary life in Culiacán into a struggle for safety, stability and basic freedoms. Thousands marched to remember victims and demand peace, but lasting change will depend on effective investigations, protection for civilians and firm action against the criminal networks driving the conflict.
