The Mexican army will again patrol the streets of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, announced the Mexican Government's general secretary, Carlos Silveyra Saito.
The announcement, reported in the Mexican daily El Informador, marks a reversal of the security situation in the city, after the military returned control over to the local Federal Police in April. Although the military had hoped to hand control over completely to civil authorities, the situation remains on the decline, as the Juarez and Sinaloa drug cartels continue to battle over control of the city. At a press conference, Silveyra noted that despite the resumption of military patrols, control of the city would still be coordinated with the Federal Police. The announcement comes at a time when federal authorities are increasingly unpopular in Ciudad Juarez. Just last week, civic organizations in the city organized a series of protests to demand the removal of soldiers and federal police, arguing that they do nothing to increase personal security.