Colombia experienced a wave of violence as a result of attacks carried out by a mafia group linked to the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). These assaults, which occurred in the southwest region of the country, involved explosives and firearms, resulting in injuries to a soldier.
The attacks come in the wake of a recent escalation in operations by the FARC dissidents, prompting the government to suspend a ceasefire agreement. President Gustavo Petro, who campaigned on a platform of achieving lasting peace in a nation plagued by conflict, now faces a significant challenge in maintaining stability.
One of the incidents involved a soldier being wounded by shrapnel from a grenade thrown by a motorcycle rider near a military base in Tumaco. Another attack targeted a military facility in Cali, although there were no reported injuries. Major General Erik Rodriguez Aparicio described the tactics employed by the assailants, highlighting the ongoing conflict between the military and the FARC dissidents.
Additional violence erupted in Jamundí, where armed fighters fired upon a police station from the mountains. The police, requesting army reinforcements, faced further aggression from the mafia group using gas cylinders filled with explosives. These incidents underscore the complex and dangerous landscape in which security forces operate in Colombia.
The emergence of FARC dissidents following the breakdown of the 2016 peace accords has contributed to a surge in violence, with various factions vying for control over lucrative territories. President Petro's efforts to address the root causes of violence, including poverty, represent a shift towards a more holistic approach to conflict resolution.
