The disappearance of 43 students from Mexico’s Rural Normal School at Ayotzinapa in 2014 remains a deeply painful and unresolved issue for their families and the country. The incident occurred on September 26, 2014, when the students were traveling in buses to Mexico City to participate in a protest. They were intercepted by security forces connected to a local drug cartel, Guerreros Unidos, in the town of Iguala, Guerrero.
The initial investigation under President Enrique Peña Nieto’s administration claimed that the students were mistaken for rival gang members and were killed, with their bodies burned and dumped in a river. However, multiple investigations, including those conducted by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and a truth commission formed in 2019, revealed that this version of events was based on false testimonies and tampered evidence.
It is now believed that the involvement of local, state, and federal police, as well as the Mexican military, played a significant role in the students’ disappearance. Evidence points to the military being aware of and possibly complicit in the attack, as it had intelligence assets among the students and was involved in drug trafficking operations with Guerreros Unidos.
Despite over 100 arrests, including former Attorney General Jesús Murillo Karam, no one has been convicted. The investigation has been marred by accusations of torture, cover-ups, and political interference, with several key individuals, including former investigator Tomás Zerón, still at large. Families continue to demand access to military records and greater cooperation from both the Mexican and U.S. governments.
As the 10th anniversary of the tragedy approaches, protests have intensified, with relatives and supporters calling for justice. Demonstrations in Mexico City have turned violent, reflecting the deep frustration over the lack of accountability and transparency in the case. Despite promises from President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to resolve the issue, the families of the 43 students are still waiting for answers.
