Colombian guerrilla fighters unleashed a wave of violence in the country’s southwest on Monday, leaving a trail of death and destruction in their wake. In separate gun and bomb attacks, two police officers and two civilians lost their lives, while at least seven others were injured.
The town of Morales in the Cauca department bore the brunt of the violence, with Central General Staff rebels launching a brutal assault. The rebels, who had rejected a peace deal signed by the FARC Marxist guerrilla group in 2016, carried out a coordinated attack on a police station. They opened fire and set off cylinder bombs, resulting in the deaths of two officers and two individuals in the prison cells.
The Defense Minister, Ivan Velasquez, condemned the attack as a “terrorist act,” highlighting the ongoing threat posed by guerrilla groups in the region. The army swiftly deployed 100 soldiers to the town, where additional explosive devices were discovered.
The situation escalated further in the neighboring department of Valle del Cauca, where a motorcycle rigged with explosives detonated, injuring four people, including three children. The violence was attributed to EMC fighters under the command of guerrilla leader Ivan Mordisco, who recently abandoned the peace process, prompting a government offensive against his forces.
As the region grapples with escalating violence and instability, President Gustavo Petro has vowed to crack down on terrorist activities and protect the population from further harm. The Colombian government remains committed to restoring peace and stability in the face of ongoing threats from rebel groups.