12 Apr 2020 | 04:20 PM UTC
Mexico: Missing journalist found dead in Acapulco April 12
Mexican journalist murdered by unknown assailants discovered in Acapulco on April 12; heightened security presence expected in the area
Event
A Mexican journalist who went missing on April 2 was found dead in Acapulco (Guerrero state) on Saturday, April 11. Forensic experts concluded that the man was murdered approximately two weeks prior by unknown assailants near the resort area of the city. The Guerrero human rights commission has called on authorities to launch an investigation into the incident.
Context
Mexico ranks 144 out of 180 countries on the Reporters Without Borders 2019 Press Freedom Index. Kidnapping is a longstanding concern in Mexico, and both foreigners and locals face a high threat of abduction throughout the country. At least 10 journalists were killed in the country in 2019.
Advice
Due to extreme levels of violence linked to the presence of various armed groups, some Western governments advise against travel to various parts of Mexico: notably, the states of Guerrero, Michoacán, Colima, Sinaloa, and Tamaulipas, as well as the northeastern border with the US.