Ongoing Cartel Violence Prompts Sinaloa to Cancel Public Independence Day Celebrations

Sinaloa Gov. Rubén Rocha Moya announced the cancellation of public events tied to Mexico's Independence Day, citing a sharp rise in violence and homicides stemming from ongoing turf wars between the criminal groups Los Chapitos and La Mayiza.

In a statement shared on social media, Rocha Moya said that on Sept. 15, the state will only hold the official civic ceremony. That event will include participation from the state's three branches of government and the Armed Forces. He said the decision was made to protect the safety, well-being, and rights of Sinaloa residents.

"As governor of Sinaloa, and in keeping with my duty to act in the best interest of families across the state, I have decided that this September 15 the celebration of our Independence will be limited solely to the official civic ceremony," Rocha Moya said in a video posted to X.

"I ask for the understanding of all Sinaloans and invite everyone to celebrate in our homes the pride of being Mexican," he added.

For more than a year, Sinaloa has been at the center of a violent conflict that has claimed more than 2,000 lives. Since the unexpected arrest and extradition of Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada in July 2024, followed by the outbreak of violence that September, homicides in the region have increased by more than 400 percent, according to a CNN analysis.

Similarly, according to data from the Mexican news outlet Noroeste, from Sept. 9, 2024, to date, Sinaloa has reported 2,011 homicides, averaging 5.4 per day. The state has also recorded a historic number of disappearances, with 1,979 people reportedly kidnapped during the same period.

As in 2024, residents have again been asked to stay home and refrain from gathering to celebrate the holiday. Last year, Rocha Moya made a similar announcement just days after fighting erupted between Los Chapitos and La Mayiza, canceling both public and private festivities across the state.

The decision also led to the cancellation of several concerts that had been scheduled. World-renowned singer Miguel Bosé had been set to perform in Culiacán, but his concert was canceled following the governor's announcement.

In addition to Bosé, Mexican artists Marisela and El Coyote y Su Banda were also booked by the state government to take part in the celebrations.

"I want to thank the artists who were scheduled to perform for their professionalism and their willingness to be part of the celebrations," Rocha Moya said.