A wave of violence has swept through southwestern Colombia, following a devastating bombing on a major highway and a subsequent military strike, leaving dozens dead and injured amid a backdrop of escalating drug violence and international tensions.
Bombing on the Pan-American Highway
Incident Details
An explosive device detonated on the Pan-American Highway in the municipality of Cajibio, Cauca province, on Saturday. Reports indicate that an explosive cylinder fell onto a minibus, overturning vehicles and creating a crater on the highway.
Casualty figures vary across sources, though the scale of the tragedy is consistent:
- Source 1 reports 14 killed and at least 38 injured, including five children.
- Source 2 reports at least 19 killed and 38 injured, including five children.
- Source 3 reports 19 killed and at least 38 injured, including five children.
- Source 4 reports 13 killed and at least 38 injured, including five children.
- Source 5 reports 20 fatalities (15 women, 5 men) and 36 injuries, with three in intensive care and five minors expected to recover.
Cauca Health Secretary Carolina Camargo and Governor Octavio Guzmán provided casualty figures. The Colombia Institute of Legal Medicine is identifying victims with specialist assistance. Governor Guzmán declared three days of mourning.
Attribution of Responsibility
Multiple sources attribute the attack to dissident factions of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
- General Hugo López, commander of Colombia's Armed Forces, called the attack a "terrorist act" and blamed the network of Iván Mordisco and the Jaime Martínez faction.
- President Gustavo Petro directly attributed the attack to Iván Mordisco, a former FARC dissident who rejected the 2016 peace agreement.
Government Response
- President Petro described those responsible as "terrorists, fascists, and drug traffickers" in social media statements.
- Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez traveled to the region to assess the security situation, stating the government will "respond with firmness."
- The government has offered a reward of over $1 million for information leading to the capture of "Marlon," identified as the leader of a local dissident group.
- Presidential candidate Paloma Valencia of the opposition Democratic Center party criticized the government's response.
- Francisca Toro, governor of Valle del Cauca, requested immediate national support, including reinforcement of security forces and enhanced intelligence operations.
Broader Context
The bombing is part of a series of at least 26 explosive incidents reported over the preceding two to three days in Valle del Cauca and Cauca departments. Authorities attribute the escalation to disputes between illegal armed groups over drug trafficking routes to the port of Buenaventura.
Incidents include:
- A shooting at a police station in Jamundi
- An attack with drones on a radar facility in El Tambo
- Two vehicle-borne explosive devices detonated near military units in Cali and Palmira
- General Hugo López confirmed the incidents have solely affected civilians
The violence occurs ahead of presidential elections scheduled for May 31, with security being a central campaign issue.
Military Strike on Rebel Camp
Operation Details
The Colombian military conducted an air strike on a suspected rebel camp in the province of Guaviare, resulting in at least 19 deaths. Defence Minister Pedro Sánchez described the operation as an action against a prominent criminal entity.
Target: A dissident faction of the FARC, led by Iván Mordisco, involved in drug trafficking, illegal mining, and extortion.
During the operation, security forces apprehended three individuals and rescued three children who had reportedly been recruited by the group. Reports from rights organizations indicate a rise in forced recruitment of children by armed groups in Colombia.
Political Context
President Petro authorized the strike following information regarding the group's alleged threat to the population and security forces. Petro had previously expressed reservations about using air strikes against rebel camps but approved the offensive after peace negotiations with several armed groups collapsed.
Mordisco's faction initially entered peace talks as part of Petro's "total peace" initiative. These talks concluded after six months when Mordisco's group withdrew.
International Relations and Sanctions
US Sanctions on Colombian Officials
The United States has imposed sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro, his wife, eldest son, and Interior Minister Armando Benedetti. The sanctions include blocking access to assets or properties in the United States.
US Accusations
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that President Petro has "allowed drug cartels to flourish" and that cocaine production in Colombia has reached "the highest rate in decades." The Treasury identified Colombia as the world's leading exporter of cocaine. The US State Department announced it would not certify Colombia's counter-narcotics efforts.
Colombian Response
President Petro denied the accusations in a social media post, stating he has been fighting drug trafficking "for decades" and has assisted the US in reducing its cocaine consumption. He concluded: "A complete paradox - but not one step back, and never on our knees."
Previous Tensions
The sanctions follow recent disagreements between Colombia and the US. In recent weeks, the US military increased activity in the southern Caribbean, striking vessels in international waters alleged to be carrying drugs.
Former President Trump announced the suspension of payments and subsidies to Colombia after President Petro told BBC News that airstrikes on alleged drug vessels in the Caribbean constituted an "act of tyranny."
Impact on Operations
President Petro has criticized US strikes on boats in the Caribbean and Pacific and ordered his government to suspend intelligence sharing with US security agencies. Petro stated that "the fight against drugs must be subordinated to the human rights of the Caribbean people" following reports of at least 76 fatalities in such US operations.
International Reactions
The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights condemned the attacks and called for an investigation.