Thousands demand end to violence in Mexican cartel hotspot

Image source, Ivan Medina EPA/ShutterstockImage caption, Relatives of people who have been reported missing joined in the march

Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Culiacán to demand an end to the violence that has wracked the north Mexico city.

The state of Sinaloa has seen the number of murders and disappearances skyrocket since two factions of the Sinaloa cartel started a bloody war two years ago.

Residents dressed in white held up posters of missing loved and signs reading "We don't want fear, we want peace" at the protest on Sunday.

More than three million people live in Sinaloa and many say that the war between the two rival factions - known as Los Chapitos and La Mayiza - has blighted their lives.

'Fear is everywhere': BBC reports from Mexican city turned into war zone by drug cartel feud

Published25 FebruaryThe march was scheduled to coincide with the second anniversary since the start of the conflict - which feud broke out after the arrest of wanted drug lord Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada in the US.

His followers, La Mayiza, allege he was betrayed by the son of the infamous founder of the Sinaloa cartel, Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, and have turned on members of his faction, Los Chapitos.

The two factions regularly carry out ambushes, drive-by shootings and erect roadblocks by hijacking trucks, which they set alight.

Residents of Culiacán have been caught up in this internecine war.

Not only has the number of murders and disappearances shot up in the state but also those of extortions and robberies, official figures suggest.

Sunday's protest was organised by relatives of victims, local businesses, civil society groups and the Catholic church.

Businessman Sergio Esquer told AFP news agency that more than 5,000 businesses had closed since the start of the feud.

"That's the tragedy Sinaloa is experiencing," Esquer, who is a leader in the centre-left opposition party Movimiento Ciudadano, said.

The event started with a Mass in which the bishop of Culiacán called on members of the warring groups to put an end to their violence.

"Stop, look at what's happening, look at the affected families, look at the young people and at our city. No amount of power, of money, territory or ambition is worth more than a human life," he said.

Among those who attended the protest were relatives of a one-year-old boy who died after being hit by a bullet in the head during a shootout in the city last week.

As well as the wave of violence, Sinaloa state has also been hit by political upheaval in recent months.

In April, US prosecutors accused the state's governor, Rubén Rocha, and nine other current and former officials of conspiring with Los Chapitos to smuggle drugs into the US.

Rocha, who has denied any wrongdoing, stepped down temporarily while Mexican prosecutors opened an investigation of their own into the allegations.

Three weeks ago, he returned to his post, but just days later requested another leave of absence after President Claudia Sheinbaum wrote on social media, without directly naming him that "power without principles becomes arrogance".

Notorious drug cartel leader Ismael Zambada sentenced to life in US prison

US charges Mexican governor and other leaders with aiding drug cartel

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