The States With the Most Disappearances During Amlo's Six-year Term Were Revealed

During the six-year term of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (2018-2024), Mexico has faced a persistent crisis of forced disappearances.

According to official data, more than 50,000 people have disappeared during this period, representing approximately 44.8% of the total 115,591 cases recorded since 1964.

This means that, on average, one person disappears every hour in the country.

Increase in cases during the term

The number of disappearances has shown a notable increase compared to previous administrations.

During the government of Enrique Peña Nieto (2012-2018), 52,948 cases were recorded, while in López Obrador's period, the figure exceeds 50,000 disappearances.

This increase has raised concerns among human rights organizations and collectives of families of the disappeared.

Government efforts and results

In response to the crisis, in June 2023, President López Obrador announced a census of missing persons, different from the National Registry of Missing and Unlocated Persons (RNPDNO), managed by the Servants of the Nation of the Ministry of Welfare.

By March 2024, the Secretary of the Interior, Luisa María Alcalde, reported that 16,681 people had been located and 1,951 duplicate records were identified.

However, these efforts have been considered insufficient by various organizations, which point out the lack of resources and specialized personnel to address the magnitude of the problem.

Impunity and challenges in identification

A report by the organization Causa en Común, titled "Names without bodies and bodies without names: notes on the omission of the Mexican State in the face of the tragedy of the disappeared," highlights that 99% of disappearances in Mexico remain unpunished.

Additionally, it is estimated that more than 72,100 unidentified bodies are in morgues and common graves throughout the country, reflecting a forensic crisis and the system's inability to respond to families searching for their loved ones.

States with the most disappearances

Approximately in 6 states, 49% of the cases presented during AMLO's term (2018-2024) are concentrated:

• Jalisco: 6,724

• State of Mexico (Edomex): 5,425

• Michoacán: 3,758

• Mexico City (CDMX): 3,655

• Tamaulipas: 3,351

• Nuevo León: 3,256

Emblematic and recent cases

A case that exemplifies the seriousness of the situation is that of journalist Jesús Alberto Camacho Rodríguez, who disappeared in 2019.

His body was found three years later in a morgue in Culiacán, Sinaloa, 450 kilometers from where he disappeared in Ciudad Obregón, Sonora.

His identification was achieved thanks to the matching of fingerprints with the National Electoral Institute's archive, using devices donated by the UN.

This case highlights the deficiencies in identification processes and the lack of coordination between the responsible institutions.

Conclusion

Despite the declared efforts by López Obrador's government to address the disappearance crisis, the results indicate an increase in the number of cases and persistent impunity.

The lack of adequate resources, specialized personnel, and a comprehensive strategy have contributed to thousands of families continuing to search for their loved ones without clear answers.

It is imperative that the authorities strengthen the institutions responsible for search and identification, and that effective policies are implemented to prevent future disappearances in the country.