Background on Carlos Manzo Rodríguez
Carlos Manzo Rodríguez was the mayor of Uruapan, Michoacán, Mexico. He tragically lost his life on the evening of November 1, during a public event following an attack that left him with seven gunshot wounds. The incident occurred around 8:10 PM when a man dressed in a white hoodie and black pants opened fire on Manzo as he was leaving the Festival of the Velas in Uruapan’s city center.
Security Details and Government Response
According to Omar García Harfuch, the Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, there will be no impunity in Manzo’s murder investigation. The weapon used in the assault had previously been involved in two confrontations between rival criminal groups operating in the Tierra Caliente region.
Ricardo Trevilla Trejo, the Secretary of the Defense Nation (Sedena), revealed that Manzo had a reinforced security scheme consisting of 14 Guardia Nacional elements and a municipal group providing immediate security. Six Guardia Nacional officers and a vehicle were added to the protection detail on December 10, following instructions from the state Guardia Nacional coordinator due to increased risks in the region.
Public Reaction and Further Developments
President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned Manzo’s assassination and reaffirmed her commitment to achieving peace, security, and zero impunity with justice. Following the murder, protesters demanded justice for Manzo’s death, leading to clashes with police and vandalism inside Morelia’s Government Palace.
Structural Issues and Expert Analysis
Experts warn that Manzo’s murder is a symptom of deep-rooted issues in Mexico: institutional decay and criminal organizations’ profound influence on local governments.
Gerardo Rodríguez Sánchez, a UDLAP professor and researcher, stated that Manzo’s killing reflects impunity and political-criminal pacts woven over the past two decades in Michoacán. He explained that numerous local agreements between politicians and criminals have weakened institutions and left municipal governments vulnerable.
Víctor Hernández, the Institute for Latin American Strategic Studies’ director, outlined two levels of understanding violence against mayors. Structural causes include municipal governments being the weakest link in the governmental ecosystem regarding executive protection. Municipal police forces are small, underfunded, and lack specialized skills like intelligence and executive protection.
Carlos Rodríguez Ulloa, a security and national intelligence specialist, emphasized that Manzo’s murder is part of a series of recent attacks on local authorities in Michoacán and Guerrero. Criminal groups aim to subjugate or replace civilian power, gaining local territorial control.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who was Carlos Manzo Rodríguez? He was the mayor of Uruapan, Michoacán, Mexico.
- What happened during the Festival of the Velas? Carlos Manzo Rodríguez was shot seven times by a man in a white hoodie and black pants as he left the event.
- What security measures did Manzo have? He had a reinforced security scheme with 14 Guardia Nacional elements and a municipal group, plus six additional officers and a vehicle.
- What do experts say about the attack? The assassination reflects Mexico’s structural issues, including institutional decay and criminal organizations’ influence on local governments.
- What is the impact of these attacks? These incidents intimidate local authorities, sending a message that no assistance will come when declaring war on drug cartels.
