On April 25 (local time), at least 13 people were killed and 17 injured in an explosive attack in western Colombia, according to police sources. The incident occurred on the Pan-American highway, in the El Tunel area of Cajibio city, about 35 km from Popayan city, the capital of Cauca province.
Colombian officials believe the attack involves separatist armed groups from the FARC guerrillas, organizations that rejected the 2016 peace agreement. The security situation in Cauca province is described as deteriorating with many violent acts at the same time.
Cauca Governor Octavio Guzman said this was one of many serious incidents that occurred during the day, and warned about the escalation of acts he called terrorism. He called on the government to implement strong, continuous and effective measures to respond to the local public order crisis.
From the political arena, Ms. Paloma Valencia, a presidential candidate from the opposition Central Democratic Party and from Cauca, criticized the attack as a terrorist act carried out by FARC separatist groups. She said that President Gustavo Petro's government should not continue to reduce the level of violence, and requested increased support for the armed forces and police.
President Gustavo Petro, who was a former rebel, is pursuing a "comprehensive peace" policy through negotiations and disruptive ceasefires with armed groups. However, new developments show a major challenge to efforts to stabilize security in areas where conflict still exists.
