Indigenous leader kidnapped in Venezuela found dead

Julio Rodriguez, an indigenous leader of the Jivi Ekunay people, has been found dead in Venezuela after being kidnapped eight days earlier. Human rights organization Provea confirmed his death, stating he was abducted by alleged members of FARC dissident groups.

Rodriguez was reportedly kidnapped from a mining town in southern Venezuela. FARC, once Colombia's oldest, largest, and most militant guerrilla organization, officially disbanded in 2017. However, some factions refused to lay down their arms and are known as dissidents.

According to Provea's records, at least 48 indigenous people from various tribes have been killed since 2010. The perpetrators include security force agents and non-state actors, such as FARC dissident groups. The organization is now calling for an investigation and swift sanctions against those responsible for Rodriguez's death.

The incident highlights the ongoing security challenges and violence faced by indigenous communities in the region, often caught in the crossfire of armed groups operating across borders.