Escalating violence in Cauca province targets public infrastructure ahead of Colombian presidential election
President Gustavo Petro has blamed Ivan Mordisco for the blast, while opposition candidate Paloma Valencia demands full backing for the Armed Forces and police
A suspected attack by FARC dissidents on a minibus travelling the Pan-American Highway in Cajibio, Cauca province, has resulted in the deaths of 14 people and injuries to at least 38 others, including five children. The explosion occurred on Saturday and marks a significant escalation in violence targeting public infrastructure just one month before the May 31 presidential election.
According to local media reports, an explosive cylinder fell onto the vehicle and detonated, causing extensive damage and overturning several cars. Governor Octavio Guzman described the incident as a tragedy, sharing visuals on X that showed a large crater etched into the highway and the destruction of multiple vehicles. He warned that the event signals a broader terrorist escalation in the region.
President Gustavo Petro has explicitly attributed the attack to Ivan Mordisco, a wanted criminal and dissident of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. Petro compared Mordisco to the late drug lord Pablo Escobar, labelling the perpetrators as terrorists, fascists, and drug traffickers. Mordisco opted out of the peace agreement signed with the state in 2016, and his group continues to operate in the region.
The attack in Cajibio is part of a wider spate of violence affecting only civilians. At least 26 incidents targeting public infrastructure have been reported over the last two days in the Valle del Cauca and Cauca departments. This surge in activity has prompted the dispatch of high-ranking officials, including Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez, to the region to assess the situation.
Opposition candidate Paloma Valencia, representing the Democratic Center party and hailing from Cauca, has criticised the current administration for minimising the violence. She has demanded immediate government action, full backing for the Armed Forces and police, and concrete results to address the security crisis. Security remains a central issue in the campaign ahead of the upcoming poll.
The Commander of Colombia's Armed Forces, Hugo López, confirmed that the recent incidents have exclusively affected civilians. With the election date approaching, the government faces pressure to demonstrate control over the escalating conflict while opposition figures argue that the state is failing to protect its citizens from armed groups.
