Latin America: Organized crime, civil unrest, and political rivalry threaten local officials
Criminal groups were behind much of the targeted violence on local authorities in Mexico and Brazil.
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This report is part of ACLED's annual Violence Targeting Local Officials series that has been covering this topic for the past four years.
Latin America and the Caribbean ranks second among the most dangerous regions in the world for local officials, with 697 violent incidents recorded in 2025, just behind Asia-Pacific. Organized crime and civil unrest constituted the two biggest threats to the security of local officials in the region.
Non-state armed groups, mostly gangs and cartels, were collectively responsible for 79% of all violence toward local authorities across the region (see table below). Mexico remains the world’s most dangerous country for local officials, who find themselves in the crosshairs of criminal groups for their opposition to illicit activities or as a result of violent competition among cartels.
In one notable case, Carlos Manzo — the mayor of Uruapan in Michoacán state, who was known for his hard-line stance against organized crime — was shot and killed during Día de Muertos celebrations on 1 November 2025. According to prosecutors, the attack was carried out by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).1 While the exact motivations of the attack are unclear, Manzo’s killing triggered widespread protests across the country and prompted President Claudia Sheinbaum to deploy federal forces to Michoacán.2
On the other hand, attempts by criminal groups to influence election outcomes also endangered local officials. In Veracruz state, for instance, where at least seven groups compete for the control of illicit markets,3 violence against local officials carried out by criminal groups increased by 60% compared to 2024 as a result of the local elections held in June. By intervening during elections, either by targeting or threatening candidates, organized criminal groups seek to gain political control of areas that are key to illicit activities.4
However, while many of these attacks across the region exhibit tactics used by organized criminal groups, in some cases, politicians resort to using criminal groups to target their competitors.5 In Novo Cruzeiro, Brazil, a councilman was shot and killed on 11 November 2025 in an attack, which, according to police, was allegedly ordered by his substitute, who was next in line to assume his position if left vacant.6 This case illustrates the collusion between organized crime and political officials, who rely on the extensive influence of criminal actors to evade responsibility and intimidate competitors
Clashes between armed groups and state forces have also resulted in the severe disruption of local governance and service delivery. In Colombia, the second most dangerous country in the region for local officials, multiple attacks against police and military infrastructure caused damage to public buildings, forcing local authorities to adopt exceptional measures. Not only is their capacity to continue functioning jeopardized, but also funding and budgeting are affected, as resources originally planned for certain programs or initiatives are redirected to reconstruction or additional security measures.
In Patía, Cauca department, in early June, the General Central Staff dissident faction of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) detonated a car bomb near the police station, causing extensive damage to the local administrative offices. As service provision had to continue, the mayor decided to keep operations running in what was left of the building.7
Civil unrest, mostly attacks by rioters, was frequent across the region, but especially in Peru, Bolivia, and Chile, the only countries where this violence increased in 2025 compared to 2024. Allegations of corruption or underperformance, as well as government action that is legally authorized but perceived as unjust or excessive, often make communities feel justified in resorting to violence against authorities. In one notable case, in Santiago, Chile, street vendors attacked municipal inspectors in late November during an operation to crack down on unauthorized street vending. Such incidents were one of the motivators to include further security measures for municipal inspectors in the newly approved Municipal Security Law, including mandatory protection equipment and stricter penalties for the perpetrators.8
Visuals produced by Ciro Murillo.
Regional trends in violence targeting local officials
Four of the top 10 countries with the most intense political violence in the world are in Latin America and the Caribbean. No other region accounts for more than two.
See ACLED’s Conflict Index to find out more.
