Latin America & the Caribbean
Fighting Gangs Under the State of Exception in Honduras
5 December 2023
A year after the implementation of a state of exception by Honduran President Xiomara Castro on 6 December 2022, this report explores the evolution of violence likely related to gang activity between January and November 2023
Read MoreThe Killing of Villavicencio: A Symptom of Rising Political Violence Ahead of Ecuador’s Snap Elections
14 August 2023
Election Watch The Killing of Villavicencio: A Symptom of Rising Political Violence Ahead of Ecuador’s Snap Elections 14 August 2023 On 9 August, an armed man shot and killed Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio at a campaign rally in the capital city, Quito. The assassination marks a critical moment for Ecuador, just over a week…
Read MoreSpecial Issue on the Targeting of Local Officials: Brazil
22 June 2023
The targeting of local officials in Brazil is more pervasive and deadly at the municipal level in all scenarios, and heightened during local elections. Ongoing investigations on the interference of organized crime in the latest election in the states of Piauí and Rio de Janeiro points to continuous involvement of gangs and militias in the elections. Heading into the 2024 municipal elections, heightened tensions stoked by national politics and the collusive relationship between organized criminal groups and some local authorities are likely to amplify existing party tensions and exacerbate local political rivalries.
Read MoreSpecial Issue on the Targeting of Local Officials: Mexico
22 June 2023
ACLED records violence targeting local officials across Mexico – with events in all 32 states. However, some of the highest levels of violence targeting administrators were recorded in Oaxaca and Chiapas states, where ACLED records have relatively lower levels of events likely related to gang violence – challenging the narrative that political violence in Mexico is a function of organized crime alone. As political competition and power dynamics contribute to widespread violence, particularly around election cycles, the next general elections scheduled for June 2024 are likely to exacerbate tensions.
Read MoreActor Profile: The Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG)
14 April 2023
With a presence in at least 27 states, the CJNG is one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal groups. This actor profile unpacks the data on key trends in CJNG activity since 2018.
Read MorePolitical Repression in Cuba Ahead of the 2023 Parliamentary Elections
23 March 2023
An analysis of government repression and violence targeting Cuba’s political opposition ahead of parliamentary elections on 26 March 2023.
Read More