At least 13 killed, 17 injured in Colombia explosives attack, police source says

Western Colombia is reeling from a brutal explosives attack that claimed the lives of at least 13 people and left 17 others wounded. The incident, which took place on the Pan-American Highway in the El Tunel area of Cajibio municipality, has been blamed by authorities on FARC dissidents who rejected the 2016 peace accord. Governor Octavio Guzman of Cauca province decried the attack as a "terrorist escalation" demanding "forceful, sustained and effective action from the national government." Presidential candidate Paloma Valencia echoed these sentiments, labeling the act as "terrorism" and criticizing President Gustavo Petro's administration for allegedly minimizing violence and dismantling state presence. This event underscores the persistent security challenges in regions grappling with the aftermath of the peace process, highlighting the complex and often violent landscape that remains. The call for stronger government intervention reflects a deep-seated concern among local leaders and the public about the escalating insecurity and the perceived inadequacy of current peace initiatives to address these threats effectively.

“

Cauca cannot continue to face this barbarity alone. We are facing a terrorist escalation that demands immediate responses. We demand forceful, sustained and effective action from the national government in the face of the grave public order crisis we are experiencing.