Who is El Mencho and what’s happening in Mexico?

The death of Nemesio 'El Mencho' Oseguera Cervantes, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), in a Mexican military operation on February 22, 2026, unleashed an immediate wave of retaliatory violence across at least 16 states, including widespread 'narco-blockades' and arson attacks that claimed over 70 lives. This pivotal event has plunged Mexico into a critical period of uncertainty, as the nation grapples with a power vacuum within its most formidable criminal organization just weeks before co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup. President Claudia Sheinbaum's administration, asserting Mexican sovereignty in the intelligence-supported operation, moved swiftly to restore order, lifting most blockades by late February. However, the tactical victory has ignited a volatile scramble for succession within the CJNG, further complicated by the April 27 arrest of Audias Flores Silva, 'El Jardinero', a key contender for leadership, under an expanded US indictment. This internal strife coincides with intensified competition from rival groups, including warring factions of the Sinaloa Cartel like 'Los Chapitos' and 'La Mayiza', exacerbating cartel-on-cartel violence and threatening regional stability. The US, having designated CJNG a foreign terrorist organization in February 2025, continues to exert pressure, particularly concerning the flow of fentanyl. As Mexico prepares to welcome millions for the World Cup in June, authorities have deployed 100,000 troops, with cartels in host cities like Guadalajara reportedly scaling down overt violence for economic benefit. Yet, the underlying fragmentation of criminal groups and escalating extortion rackets persist, underscored by recent fatal attacks on police officers in Michoacán just days before the tournament's kickoff. Experts warn that the fragile calm could shatter post-World Cup, potentially leading to a resurgence of violence as internal CJNG disputes and inter-cartel rivalries boil over, challenging the Sheinbaum administration's strategy and the long-term security outlook.