Miami (July 22, 2026) – The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) strongly condemns the killing of Mexican journalist Francisco Alejandro Leyva Aguilar, the sixth reporter murdered in Mexico so far in 2026 and calls on authorities to take urgent and effective action to curb violence against the press. The organization demands a prompt, thorough, and transparent investigation to determine the motive behind the crime, identify and prosecute all those responsible, and prevent this latest case from adding to the persistent impunity surrounding attacks on journalists in the country.
Leyva Aguilar was attacked by armed men on Wednesday while having breakfast at a street food stand in the municipality of San Pablo Etla, in the state of Oaxaca. With this crime, the number of journalists killed in Mexico this year rises to six, according to press reports.
Known for his column “El Zumbido del Moscardón,” the journalist critically analyzed political life in Oaxaca and denounced acts of violence and alleged links between organized crime and political actors. Hours before his murder, he had published a piece addressing insecurity in the state and the alleged interference of organized crime in the local economy and politics, according to media reports.
“This killing once again confirms the climate of extreme vulnerability in which journalists carry out their work in Mexico. Violence must not be allowed to continue silencing critical voices. We urge authorities to act swiftly and decisively to ensure this crime does not go unpunished,” said Pierre Manigault, IAPA president and chairman of Evening Post Publishing Inc., in Charleston, South Carolina.
Leyva Aguilar had an extensive career in journalism and also served as director of the Corporación Oaxaqueña de Radio y Televisión (CorTV), according to local media. His opinions and reporting were published in various local and independent outlets, as well as on digital platforms, according to press reports.
“The recurrence of these violent acts reflects the serious crisis of security and impunity facing journalism in Mexico. It is urgent for the State to adopt effective protection measures and guarantee real conditions for the free and safe exercise of the profession,” said Martha Ramos, chair of IAPA’s Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information and editorial director of Organización Editorial Mexicana (OEM).
The IAPA recalled that last week it condemned the murder of journalist Josué Martínez Contreras in Puebla, highlighting an alarming pattern of violence against the press in the country.
The organization warned that Mexico continues to rank among the most dangerous countries in the world for practicing journalism and stressed that persistent impunity in crimes against journalists not only denies justice to victims and their families but also fuels the repetition of such attacks by sending a message of tolerance toward violence against the press.
The IAPA is a non-profit organization dedicated to defending and promoting freedom of the press and expression in the Americas. It comprises more than 1,300 publications from the western hemisphere and is based in Miami, Florida, United States.
